What You Can Do to...

There are more than 2,000 nonprofit agencies in Orange County that need volunteer help, some of which are included here. * Since 1958, the Volunteer Center of Greater Orange County has served as a clearinghouse for people who would like to contribute to community-based groups. * By calling the center at (714) 953-5757, a volunteer can explain his or her interests and skills and be matched up with a group. Last year, the center placed 32,000 volunteers. * “The one thing we hear is that someone thinks they don’t have enough time to give,” says the center’s Jeanette Wood. “But with more than 2 million residents living here, I calculated that if everyone gave just five hours a week--one Saturday morning--the amount of services donated would be valued at $2 billion a year. * “The bankruptcy has had its impact on groups that serve society and we challenge every Orange County resident to give his or her five hours,” she says.

COUNTYWIDE

* Agency: Community Service Programs

Program: Adopt a family or child throughout the holidays

Wish List: Donate or pick up food, presents, family needs

Contact: Ronnetta Johnson, (714) 756-0677

* Agency: Sheepfold Shelter for Abused Homeless Women and Children

Program: Toy collection through Dec. 14

Wish List: New, nonviolent, unwrapped gifts for children and teens.

Contact: (714) 237-1444

* Agency: Toys for Tots

Program: Toy collection through Dec. 21

Wish List: Sort toys, solicit for toy drive, donate toys and answer telephones.

Contact: Sgt. Diaz or Capt. Villaroel, (714) 726-3583 or (714) 726-4179

ANAHEIM

* Agency: Anaheim Therapeutic Recreation Program

Program: Holiday party 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 16

Wish List: Help organize, decorate, entertain or prepare party refreshments for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

Contact: Teri Mountford, (714) 821-6510

* Agency: Salvation Army

Program: Various opportunities to help 5,500 families

Wish List: Adopt a family; sort and pack food baskets and toys Dec.23; Santas, photographer, record-keeping, pick up and deliver donations.

Contact: Dolores Barrett, (714) 772-7535

* Agency: Westview Vocational Services

Program: Talent Show for developmentally disabled at 6 p.m. Dec. 9

Wish List: Prepare or serve meals, help with holiday party, decorate, raise funds.

Contact: Lynn Bradford, (714) 957-4155

BUENA PARK

* Agency: Hearts United Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Program: Children’s party Dec. 16

Wish List: Wrap presents, entertain (clown), set up and clean up.

Contact: Irene Koontz, (714) 839-6752

COSTA MESA

* Agency: ARC-Assn. Renaissance Creators

Program: Christmas activities

Wish List: Adopt a family or child; fund-raise; prepare party refreshments. Donate gifts for homeless people (all ages), turkeys, coffee, toilet paper, sugar, baked items, housecleaning supplies

Contact: Rene Namaste, (714) 540-5803

* Agency: Boys & Girls Club

Program: Christmas party Dec. 19

Wish List: Prepare refreshments or bake cookies; entertain

Contact: Eleanor Strojny, (714) 631-7724

* Agency: Fairview Developmental Center

Program: Candy sorting Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Contact: Corrie Rausch, (714) 957-5188

* Agency: Hamilton Head Start

Program: Bag toys Dec. 5-12; parties 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Dec. 14; toy delivery Dec. 18-22

Wish List: Adopt a family; donate food, toys, clothes for 4-year-olds, diapers. Entertain children with music and puppets; sing in Spanish, dance; bag donated toys by age groups; pick up or deliver donated food, toys and clothing.

Contact: Jessica Castro, (714) 548-4480

* Agency: Orange Coast College Children’s Center

Program: Holiday events

Wish List: Adopt a family or child.

Contact: Lucy Groetsch, (714) 432-5569

* Agency: Port Bay Convalescent Hospital

Program: Christmas party 10 a.m. Dec. 22; New Year’s Party 2 p.m. Dec. 29

Wish List: Adopt an adult resident; bake cookies or prepare party refreshments; help with party; wrap gifts, entertain

Contact: Brenda Bray, (714) 642-0400

* Agency: Project Cuddle Inc.

Program: Christmas Party Dec. 16 in Newport Beach. Pre-party activities will be in Costa Mesa.

Wish List: Adopt a child; help with party; prepare or serve meals, sort or wrap toys; photograph; entertain; Santa Claus

Contact: Debbe Magnusen, (714) 432-9681

* Agency: Share Ourselves

Program: Holiday events

Wish List: Canned goods, stuffing mix

Contact: Lee Pierce, (714) 642-3451

* Agency: Someone Cares Soup Kitchen

Program: Free meals

Wish List: Prepare food to feed hungry and homeless

Contact: Lee Plumley, (714) 646-8181

* Agency: Women Helping Women

Program: Party Dec. 3

Wish List: Help with refreshments; donate food or beverages

Contact: A.J. Lane, (714) 631-2333

FULLERTON

* Agency: The City of Fullerton

Community Services

Program: Alcohol-free New Year’s Eve Celebration: live entertainment, activities and fireworks 7 p.m. to midnight Dec 31.

Wish List: Work at information booth; collect tickets; security; stage managers; ticket sales.

Contact: Denise Watson, (714) 738-6581

* Agency: Maple Senior Multi-Service Center

Program: Holiday community party for children 4-12, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 23.

Wish List: Santa; entertainers; photographer; help with party; decorate; sort or pack toys; craft coordinators; snow attendants; donation pickup or delivery.

Contact: Eloisa Espinoza, (714) 738-3161

GARDEN GROVE

* Agency: Garden Grove Police Department

Program: Toy drive and gift wrapping

Wish List: Gift wrapping; donate toys or gifts

Contact: Officer Karl Mansfield, (714) 741-5950 Ext. 6086

* Agency: John Henry Foundation

Program: Christmas party for 100 Dec. 18

Wish List: Adopt an adult with chronic mental illness; wrap gifts; help with Christmas party; entertain; raise funds; donate $5 gifts or personal care items.

Contact: Vicky Zinser, (714) 539-9597

* Agency: Lampson School/Heart-to- Heart Program

Program: Events through Dec. 15

Wish List: Adopt a family; deliver Christmas baskets

Contact: Sara Monroy, (714) 997-6153

HUNTINGTON BEACH

* Agency: Boys & Girls Clubs of Huntington Valley

Program: Christmas dinner and party for families Dec. 20

Wish List: Prepare or serve meals; clean up; help with holiday party; wrap gifts; Santa; record-keeping; donate gifts for children.

Contact: Art Groeneveld, (714) 374-2603

* Agency: ESA

Program: Toy store, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 11-21; assemble baskets, Dec 16; distribute baskets, Dec. 18-21

Wish List: Set up and supervise toy store; assemble and distribute holiday baskets; donate new toys or clothes, teen gifts, Christmas food items

Contact: Sandy McNally, (714) 960-2254

* Agency: Seniors’ Outreach Center

Program: Christmas Day food distribution and orientation

Wish List: Deliver meals to frail elderly

Contact: Arleen Stevens, (714) 960-2478

IRVINE

* Agency: AIDS Services Foundation

Program: Holiday baskets Dec. 16, 17

Wish List: Assemble and deliver holiday gift baskets to AIDS patients

Contact: Raul Ramirez, (714) 253-1500

LAGUNA BEACH

* Agency: CSP Youth Shelter

Program: Christmas events

Wish List: Donate toilet kits, gas barbecue, food, games, shoes, computer, Christmas gifts for children 11-17

Contact: (714) 494-4311

* Agency: Friendship Shelter Inc.

Program: Christmas and New Year’s day events

Wish List: Help with holiday party; entertain; raise funds; pick up or deliver donations

Contact: Barbara Clippinger, (714) 494-6928

* Agency: Laguna Shanti

Program: Gift wrapping 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 11-15; bag delivery, Dec. 15

Wish List: Assemble and wrap holiday gift bags; sort or pack food baskets; pick up or deliver donations, Santa

Contact: Nancy Koprowski, (714) 494-1446

LAGUNA HILLS

* Agency: Laguna Hills Adult Day Health Care Center

Program: Group trips

Wish List: Adopt an adult; push wheelchairs; prepare or serve meals; visit; entertain; holiday spruce-up projects, prepare party refreshments

Contact: Peggy Weismair, (714) 855-9444

* Agency: Laguna Hills Senior Center

Program: Holiday party for 100 senior citizens Dec. 22

Wish List: Adopt a family; help seniors write and address Christmas cards; entertain; take photographs; holiday spruce-up projects; raise funds; prepare party refreshments and gift baskets

Contact: Nancy Miller, (714) 380-0155

LAKE FOREST

* Agency: Lake Forest Nursing Center

Program: Holiday dinner 3 p.m. Dec. 19

Wish List: Decorate, visit residents, entertain

Contact: Shiffy Crane, (714) 380-9380

LOS ALAMITOS

* Agency: We Care of Los Alamitos

Program: Sort food 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 14 and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 15

Wish List: Adopt a child, sort or pack food baskets

Contact: Paula Avchen, (310) 598-9790

MISSION VIEJO

* Agency: Norman P. Murray Community & Senior Center

Program: Events throughout the month

Wish List: Entertain, take photographs, prepare party refreshments, serve meals

Contact: Nancy Herrmann, (714) 470-3062

NEWPORT BEACH

* Agency: Hoag Hospital Foundation

Program: Events through Monday

Wish List: 800 volunteers to staff the Festival of Trees. Call for specific needs

Contact: Kathleen Hileman, (714) 574-7210

ORANGE

* Agency: American Family Living

Program: Women’s holiday fashions and luncheon, Disneyland Hotel 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dec. 2

Wish List: Help with holiday party; decorate; clean up, take photographs; make centerpieces, collate brochures.

Contact: Brenda Endres, (714) 637-7900

* Agency: Friendly Center

Program: Fill Christmas baskets and sort toys 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 16; distribute baskets and toys 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 17

Wish List: Sort or pack food baskets; help with holiday party; Santa Claus; entertain; take photographs, raise funds.

Contact: Becky Palomino, (714) 771-5300

* Agency: Lestonnac Free Clinic

Program: Christmas party for children of patients Dec. 17

Wish List: Bake cookies; prepare party refreshments; Santa Claus; entertain; pick up and deliver donations, distribute toys

Contact: Sister Marie Therese, (714) 633-4600

* Agency: Orange County Zoological Society

Program: Santa at the Orange County Zoo at Irvine Park Road 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Dec 16, 17 and 23

Wish List: Santa; photographer; blow up balloons; pass out coloring books, candy canes and balloons.

Contact: Shelly Yocum, (714) 744-3713 or (714) 520-7234

* Agency: Orangewood Children’s Home Program: Holiday events throughout the month

Wish List: Donate clothing and toys for infants, children and teens; kitchen items (cookie sheets, cake pans, potholders and cooking utensils); gift certificates to Target, Mervins, Kmart) and food certificates to McDonalds, Burger King, Carls Jr., and sports equipment

Contact: (714) 935-7584

PLACENTIA

* Agency: Green Valley Child Development

Program: Holiday spruce-up project any time before Christmas

Wish List: Wash windows and clean away spider webs

Contact: Jane Manning, (714) 528-0230

SAN CLEMENTE

* Agency: ESA South County

Program: Adopt a family, assistance for homeless

Wish List: Clothing, particularly for children and teens, food baskets, gift certificates

Contact: (714) 492-8211

*Agency: San Clemente Senior Center

Program: Deliver meals to homebound seniors Dec. 20-29

Contact: Rose Nicketta, (714) 498-3322

SANTA ANA

* Agency: American Diabetes Assn.

Program: Christmas party for diabetic children and their families 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 3

Wish List: Entertainers

Contact: Linda Farris, (714) 693-0525

* Agency: Blind Children’s Learning Center

Program: Mail Christmas cards today

Wish List: Package and weigh cartons of Christmas cards; some writing.

Contact: Lois Lauer, (714) 573-8876

* Agency: Catholic Charities Family Service Center

Program: Gift wrapping Dec. 12-14; Christmas party Dec. 17

Wish List: Adopt a family or child; gift wrap; help with party or park set up; elves; donate wrapping paper, decorations, party favors

Contact: Judy Silva or Judy Mader, (714) 668-1130

* Agency: Corbin Community Center

Program: Adopt a Family Program

Wish List: Donate gifts

Contact: Pearl Raya, (714) 647-6557

* Agency: County of Orange Health Care Agency

Program: Food baskets through Dec. 22

Wish List: Assist matching donors and needy clients; deliver food boxes; sort donated clothing

Contact: Debbie Curnett, (714) 568-4422

* Agency: County of Orange Health Care Agency

Program: Adopt a needy family through Dec. 22

Wish List: Provide food baskets or food gift certificates. Spanish-speaking volunteers needed for phones

Contact: Debbie Curnett, (714) 568-4422

* Agency: County Of Orange Project Together

Program: Adopt a family through Dec. 25

Wish List: Provide grocery items and small gifts for children

Contact: V. Chavez, (714) 568-4378

* Agency: Olive Crest Homes & Services for Abuse Children

Program: Events 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 14 to 18; Saturday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. shifts available

Wish List: Greeters to welcome donors of gifts; holiday fund-raising; pickup and delivery of donations.

Contact: Cathy Cook, (714) 543-5437 Ext. 150

* Agency: Southwest Community Center

Program: Adopt a family Dec. 16-25

Wish List: Donate food, clothing, toys, hygiene products; sort or pack food baskets; prepare refreshments; take photographs; Santa, pick up or deliver donations

Contact: Connie Jones, (714) 547-4073

* Agency: United Cerebral Palsy Assn.

Program: Christmas basket program for infant center families

Wish List: Adopt a family or child; raise funds

Contact: Cheryl Russell, (714) 557-4796

* Agency: Veterans Charities

Program: Christmas Party on Dec 22

Wish List: Prepare party refreshments; help with party; sort or pack toys; Santa Claus; entertain; take photographs, raise funds

Contact: Deanne Tate, (714) 547-0615

* Agency: VIP Santa Ana Adult Day Care

Program: Holiday events throughout the month

Wish List: Santa Claus, elves, entertainers

Contact: Betty Lacy, (714) 558-1216

* Agency: YWCA South Orange County

Program: Adopt a family;

Wish List: Donate new gifts for homeless children and women; entertainers and carolers.

Contact: Rhysa Davis, (714) 542-3577

TUSTIN

* Agency: Boys & Girls Club of Tustin

Program: Christmas events

Wish List: Pick up Christmas trees Dec. 22; donate turkeys and ham

Contact: Chris, (714) 838-5223

* Agency: Laurel House

Program: Adopt a family

Wish List: Gift wrapping; decorate; spruce-up project, prepare party refreshments

Contact: Lynn Edmondson, (714) 832-0207

* Agency: Walking Shield American Indian Society

Program: Holiday Gift Drive, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday

Wish List: Donate gifts, backpacks, toothbrush, toothpaste, hair brush, comb, lip balm; collect and pack toys for Native American children; take photographs

Contact: Nancy Berg, (714) 548-8555 or Hugh Margesson, (714) 573-1434

WESTMINSTER

* Agency: County of Orange Project Together

Program: Adopt a family through Dec. 25

Wish List: Grocery items and small gifts for children

Contact: Jane Dawson, (714) 896-7556

YORBA LINDA

* Agency: Yorba Linda Head Start

Program: Adopt a family all month

Wish List: Donate clothing, food, toys; Santa Claus

Contact: Marlene Mitchell, (714) 693-9484.