Leap of Kindness Day

What will you do with the extra day we all get this Leap Year, on Saturday, February 29, 2020?

Our idea - - take part in Leap of Kindness Day and do something kind for someone else.

To help you participate, we reached out to local nonprofits and asked them for some ideas. While you can wait to deliver any items you might donate, we encourage everyone to start collection activities within your workplace or organization as soon as possible to maximize your participation and community impact. We are also inviting our members and other local organizations to share with us their own creative ideas for participating in Leap of Kindness Day this year.

For any questions please contact info@albanychamber.com or call the Albany Area Chamber at 541-926-1517 to let us know how people can help your nonprofit organization as part of Leap of Kindness Day 2020. We will be adding more nonprofit requests as we receive them.

Don't forget to post your photos with the hashtags:  #leapofkindnessday #albanyorchamber

LEAP OF KINDNESS DAY - February 29, 2020
Local non-profit requests:
 Click their name to link to their website for more information.

ALBANY CIVIC THEATER:
Albany Civic Theater is seeking donations to provide scholarships to local youth who wish to participate in our Summer Theatre program.  Each year we host 40+ local kids as they audition, practice, build and perform a show during a 3 week camp. A full scholarship is $150, but all donations are welcome.  Send a check to: Albany Civic Theater, 111 W 1st Ave, Albany, OR 97321 
 
LOVE INC:
They can use donations of pillows, gently used bath towels & pots and pans.  Also always needed is toilet paper.  And finally, volunteers to build ramps! For volunteer opportunities contact our Clearinghouse Coordinator Roger Peterson at lovelinncc@lovelinn.com or call him at 541-924-5683.  Items may be dropped off at the Love INC house, 1606 Santiam Rd SE, Albany (behind the Goodwill).
 
ALBANY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION:
The Albany Public Schools Foundation is asking for gift certificates or gift cards from local businesses that we can make available at our May 16th iCelebrate Kids auction.  This auction supports classroom grants for teachers, basic necessities for at-risk kids, suicide prevention, and scholarships for graduating seniors.  To donate, please contact Claire Muscutt at 541-979-2773 or claire@albanypsf.org.
 
ALBANY HISTORIC CAROUSEL:
Donate to the Carousel to support our CASA project as well as our Sponsor a Ride Program. Both of these projects allow us to give back to the community so families can enjoy the wonderment and instant joy that the carousel brings.  We can accept donations in one of our many donations boxes located throughout the building, or send your support to the Albany Historic Carousel & Museum, 503 First Ave W. Albany 97321
 
C.A.R.D.V .  (Center Against Rape and Domestic Violence):
Below are ways for community members to support survivors of sexual and domestic violence accessing services at CARDV.
·         Donate in-kind items for CARDV's Emergency and Confidential Shelter Program - CARDV has two shelters that provide a home-like environment for survivors and their children and is need of common household and full size personal hygiene items. The up to date wish list items can be found here: https://www.cardv.org/donations
·         Volunteering - CARDV relies on volunteers for fundraising events, services to survivors, and awareness events. To learn more about volunteering visit: cardv.org/volunteer-info-meeting
·         Donate - Donate today to help CARDV provide supportive services like the 24-hour Crisis and Support Line, Online Chat Advocacy, Confidential and Emergency Shelter, advocacy at local hospitals, legal advocacy, support groups, and community education programs in local area schools. Donate now at: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/center-against-rape-and-domestic-violence
 
JACKSON STREET YOUTH SERVICES:

• General operating funds - donations from the community are 1/3 of our annual budget!
• Volunteer Mentors to consistently meet with youth
• Tickets / passes for events and activities (pool passes, movie tickets, art activities, bowling, etc)
• Free haircuts for youth in Albany and Lebanon
• Snacks of all kinds (to-go packs and protein-heavy/healthy, like peanut butter cups, popcorn, juice boxes, beef jerky, etc)

 
CHAMBERLIN HOUSE:
Please consider a donation to the Bill and Joyce Mitchell Fund which is used to help adults with disabilities purchase services and items they can't afford on their own. For Anna, the fund provided clothing and other necessities. Cheryl was able to travel to visit a relative in hospice care and say good-bye. Crystal purchased a leg brace not covered by insurance. With your help, we are able to make a real difference for those in real need. Please contact Chamberlin House, Inc at 541-967-7729.
 
ABC HOUSE:
- New clothing and shoes for teenagers (all sizes)
- Individual snacks and drinks
- Pencil/art sets
 
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY:
We are always in need of volunteers! We would love for folks to lend a hand at our ReStore, our building supply resale center at 1225 6th Ave SE 541-924-1450. We are open from 9-4 that day and can put folks to work accepting donations, organizing the donated items and doing a bit of reorganizing. Brenda Bradford is the store manager and can be reached at 541-924-1450.
Moreover, our ReStore is always in need of donated building materials, furniture, tools, some appliances and much, much more. Time to clear out that basement or garage? Donate to the Albany ReStore on Leap of Kindness day and help build a home for an Albany family in need!
Donations contact Rod Porsche, Executive Director, 541-967-4030 or PO Box 2400, Albany, OR 97321
 
MID-WILLAMETTE FAMILY YMCA:
Help us tell our story! We're growing here at the YMCA to keep up with Albany. We'd love to be able to share everything we are doing here, but we could use some help. We are looking for some assistance in video filming or editing to help show off everything we have in store for the city in the next few years and help make these dreams come true.
Our new Early Learning Center will offer Pre-K classes and before and after care for over 90 kids. Before we can open our doors, and fulfill this great need in our area, the building needs some work and upgrades. We are hoping to have some donors or in-kind sponsors help us with some of that work so we can get our doors open and help address the child-care crisis in our community.
Contact Jarred Deitz at resourcecoordinator@ymcaalbany.org if you're interested in helping us out with either project.
As a thank you to everyone in our community who works for a non-profit, we'd like to offer a free day here at the Y! Come in anytime in March, and show your work ID card, name tag, business card, or just let us know where you work. You'll have access for the day to the entire facility for you and your family.

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF ALBANY:
From volunteering to donating items to making a financial investment in bright futures for Albany's kids we'd love to partner, not just for Leap of Kindness Day, but throughout the year to make a difference in the lives of nearly 700 kids each day!
Current Needs:
-          Professional clothing for our teen Career Closet (gently used and new)
-          Fulfill a Wish List need for our Elementary Program www.bgc-albany.org/wishlist
-          Join our monthly giving program and help provide great futures for local youth www.clubdonate.org
-          Volunteer in our BEAR (Be Enthusiastic About Reading) Mentor program or to coach an athletic team
To help meet the needs of youth in our community contact Liz Tilson-Ramirez at liz@bgc-albany.org

SUNSHINE INDUSTRIES:
Our mission is to enrich the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities.  Please consider a donation to help us serve our participants.  You can donate directly through our website sunshineindustriesunlimted.net or attend our Annual Spaghetti Dinner and Auction on April 18th.  If you have any questions please reach out to us at Jadams@sunshineindustriesunlimited.com or call 541-367-2765x304.

CASA OF LINN COUNTY:
CASA of Linn County is seeking fearless and compassionate volunteers who want to become trained advocates for children in foster care in Linn County!  If you want to become an advocate or if you have a service group, social club, worship group, book club, or workplace interested in learning more about CASA's advocacy and mission, please contact Kyle Tarr at kyle.tarr@linncasa.org.  Our next training class for new advocates will be in May/June! 

The local community can help provide the financial resources to train and support new advocates by visiting www.linncasa.org and enrolling in our monthly giving program.  Gift cards to Costco, Staples, Fred Meyer, or Amazon can help purchase office/training supplies as well as specific items that our kiddos need.  Donations of new or gently used children's books are also welcome.  YOU can help simply by sharing information with your friends and family about CASA and the work we do to help children in foster care in Linn County!  Please "Like" CASA of Linn County on Facebook and "Follow" us on Instagram!

CHRISTMAS STORYBOOK LAND:

Christmas Storybook Land's 20-foot trailer used to store our supplies, tools, and sound equipment is no longer usable.  The roof leaks have been repaired repeatedly.  Supplies have been lost and mold is developing. This year our plan is to refurbish our old Santa House to use for this important function. 

We are seeking lumber, building materials, construction tools, and volunteers to help in refurbishing our trailer with counters and shelves.  Also we need some frame work as the Santa House frame appears to be twisted and may need straightening.   Funds would be appreciated too. If you can help, contact Bonnie at 503-269-1788 or donate at https://christmasstorybookland.org/sponsor/   


ALTRUSA INTERNATIONAL OF ALBANY:

​Altrusa's greatest need is additional funding for Kidz Shop. This is a free school clothes shopping experience for low income families the first Saturday of August. An additional $15,000 is needed to be able to serve the families in need. To donate, send a check or money order to Altrusa International of Albany, PO Box 1815, Albany, OR 97321.

You can also donate prom or formal dresses and accessories for My Best Friend's Closet prom dress giveaway for low income students. Donations can be dropped off at Richard's Cleaners.


FAMILY TREE RELIEF NURSERY:

Family Tree Relief Nursery is looking for donations of: