June—August 2016
YAIL REFLECTIONS For most people, creativity is a serious business. They forget the telling phrase 'the play of ideas' and think that they need to knuckle down and work more. Often, the reverse is true. They need to play. Julia Cameron
All about Love give, share and receive By Ajen Busher
As clients, peer partners, volunteers, and clinical collaborators, we in some way or form are on a journey towards wellness. Along the way, we meet those who nourish our mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, and creative well-being.
"Self". Jeff Hewitt encourages us to consider ways to increase the dosage of positive thoughts in our daily lives. Melissa Stevens reminds us of how engaging in the arts can provide us a non-judgmental space to acknowledge our current state of well-being and to discover opportunities for healing. Sometimes, our respective paths cross Rick Ralphson, provides a discussion with those who find ways to drain our topic about the life sustaining energetic reserves for their own exchange of faith, hope and love as purpose of well-being, Whatever the we commune with others and develop case, both energy giving and energy compassion for ourselves. draining individuals serve to create meaningful moments which call us I encourage you to make a nurture our being. ...it is up to us to commitment to read one article in this decide if we are going to listen to the newsletter this week. If you read more call. for the week or choose to read one per week each week, that's excellent! In this issue, we have three representatives from YAIL who share their perspective on nurturing the
When reading and reflecting on an article, I hope you will find yourself immersed in a nonjudgmental space where you are surrounded by thoughts of hope that will influence your ability to make this day or week better than the last. Here’s to you finding truth and freedom as you progress in your journey!
Jeff’s Corner
Nourishing | immerse yourself in healing thoughts By: Jeff Hewitt
Thankfully, I think we all have had the experience of our mind, at least occasionally, being our trusted and good friend. Times when we are happy, thinking good thoughts, and are hopeful about the future. At these times our mind is telling us great things (or, at the very least, it’s keeping quiet and letting us enjoy the moment). However, as many of us know, there are also those times when our mind seems almost like our enemy. We’re thinking negative thoughts, feeling terrible, and have a sense of hopeless about our lives ever changing. These things seem to be connected, like a “which came first, the chicken or the egg?” experience. We have low energy, we feel bad, and we’re thinking negative thoughts about our situation and about ourselves. It’s almost as if with each thought we’re tossing additional logs of negativity onto the fire; feeding the fire of feeling terrible. We don’t feel good, and we’re thinking horrible thoughts about our lives, which in turn make us feel even worse, which leads to more negative thinking and hopelessness, and on and on. So how do we break free from this spiraling pit of negativity? Of course there are many things we can do, and we’ve
Quote “I have learned, as a rule of thumb, never to ask whether you can do something. Say, instead, that you are doing it. Then fasten your seatbelt. The most remarkable things follow.” Julia Cameron
probably each learned a few things that work for us, or at least help on occasion. Things like connecting with people who care about us, getting up and going for a walk, fixing ourselves a soothing cup of tea, or engaging in a fun activity. These are a few self-care mechanisms we might have in our personal toolbox. Another
I’ve discovered recently is that I don’t have to limit how much of this positivity is flowing in ...
after reading one of the entries, I just kept reading. I didn’t set any limit to how many entries I would read or how many positive thoughts I would allow in, because I needed a bigger dose. I’d still reflect on the thoughts, and do my best to take them to heart and feel their power, but if I needed more I’d keep going. Three, four, five, entries, whatever it took.
After doing this I noticed a wonderful thing starting to happen. I’d feel better almost immediately, more comforted and practice that I have been having success more at peace, but I also found myself in with lately is completely immersing myself general being in a more positive space, as in a stream of positive thinking and if these bigger doses of wonderful affirmations. thoughts were sticking with me longer, Now, we’ve probably all heard of affecting me the next day and so forth. It positive thinking, or using self-affirming seems kind of simple now, I needed bigger thoughts, but the new angle that I’ve doses of feeling good, bigger doses of discovered recently is that I don’t have to believing good things about myself. limit how much of this positivity is flowing If you feel like this is something you’d in. In fact, just the opposite is true, I need like to try, please do let me know. I would to bathe my mind and my heart in it. For love to share this practice with you, and instance, I have several books with you may just get a taste of how simple beautifully written prayers and and important it is to care for ourselves in affirmations, written by a woman named this way. Of course, as always, if you are Julia Cameron. feeling severely depressed and need help, My typical approach for many years don’t hesitate to seek out YAIL staff or was this; if I’d find myself feeling horrible someone else you trust for assistance. and in desperate need of some Deepest healing to you! inspiration, I’d randomly turn to one of the affirmations in the book, which are References: usually one or two paragraphs long, and read it. Perhaps I would meditate on it or Julia Cameron, Blessings: Prayers and think about it for a few moments, but that Declarations for a Heartful Life would be it. I had the idea that this one Julia Cameron, Heart Steps: Prayers and nugget of wisdom, this pearl from the Declarations for a Creative Life divine, should provide all of the inspiration that I need to make a shift. But the truth is, it rarely did. However, at some point not too long ago, I didn’t stop
Nourishing moments of recreation By: Melissa Stevens
Sometimes the world just sucks. There are those moments and periods of time when everyone around you feels strange and alien. They may look like people you know, but for some reason you can’t shake the feeling that these people don’t know you…that they could never know you. Walking around in a bubble, feeling alone even though you’re surrounded by people, is a strange feeling. When you’re already feeling sad, lonely, angry, bored, or isolated, that feeling of “otherness” just makes everything worse. The thought that flickers through my mind in those moments is almost always, “am I weird or is everyone else?” Obviously, I prefer to think that everyone else is strange!
I prefer to think that everyone else is strange! We are often told to seek connection with others, to establish a community and network of peers. The communities we build are often what save us when we are feeling at our most isolated, shattered, angry, or lost. Yet, we often miss discussing the fact that while community and face-to-face connection with others is incredibly important to staying happy and healthy, it is not enough. It is incredibly rare to find a person who deeply understands your every mood and rarely is there someone who can speak your inner most pain in a way that you have been incapable of. Music, art, and literature are the only spaces I have found to be unconditionally underCont.. on page 4
Caminar San Mateo Supportive Communities REDWOOD HOUSE
YAIL YAIL (Young Adult Independent LivRedwood House in Redwood City, CA ing) provides an array of specialized services to transition-age youth (TAY, is a crisis residential program that or 18-25 year olds) who need supoffers an alternative to hospitalizaport while they develop and work tion for individuals in the recovery process. Residents at the Redwood towards living more independently House participate in a healing com- and accomplishing their life goals. YAIL meets program particimunity environment that benefits pants where they're at, bases its from a wide selection of recoveryoriented groups, supportive and well work on each participant's individualized, strengths-based treatment -trained staff, excellent food, and plan, and ultimately helps each parplenty of opportunity for active enticipant achieve the goals of greatest gagement with the program. The importance to them (e.g., how to focus is on encouraging a return to keep an apartment, make/maintain the community, with an increased sense of support, hope, and determi- friends, and manage mental health issues so it doesn't interfere with nation. dreams and goals). Based in Redwood City, CA, YAIL offers services seven days per week to approximately 20 participants at any given time: a maximum of 6 HAWTHORNE HOUSE participants who live on-site and EUCALYPTUS HOUSE the maximum of 14 participants Hawthorne House (also in Redwood who live elsewhere in San Mateo County. The YAIL campus has one City, CA) and Eucalyptus House (located in Daly City, CA) are 12-bed Community Room, one Recreational Room and four two-bedroom transitional residential programs apartments — three for client rentthat help people prepare for independent living. Residents and staff als and one for staff office/ co-create a caring community that participant drop-in use — and serves as the hub for social events fosters empowerment, peer supand community meetings that help port, and the achievement of life goals. Once again, the staff’s belief develop a safe, healthy community of peer support that reinforces the in each person’s abilities and message of recovery. strengths creates a dynamic community where residents are focused on building successful and meaningful lives. Staff is available for coaching, support, and skill building to For more information visit: enhance each person’s self-esteem www.caminar.org and confidence in recovery.
SUPPORTED RESOURCES EDUCATION Supported Education Caminar Supported Education Program provides a full array state-of-the-art support services to students with disabilities including peer support, specialized classes, educational accommodations and on-campus counseling and support. Phone: (650) 574-6634 San Mateo County Office of Education Regional Occupational Program Vocational training for adults & high school youth. Website: https://cte-smcoe-cteca.schoolloop.com/ Phone: (650) 598-2000
EMPLOYMENT Jobs Plus Caminar Jobs Plus offers job assessment, vocational training, skill development, support on resume writing, job application and interviewing skills. Phone: (650) 578-8691 California Department of Rehabilitation Counseling, training, & placement for persons who have disabilities. Website: http://www.rehab.ca.gov/ Phone: (650) 358-4180 Peninsula Works Offers a range of services to job seekers of all skill levels. Services are provided in Daly City and Menlo Park. Website: http://www.peninsulaworks.org/ JobSeekers/index.html Phone: (650) 581-0071 (Daly City) Phone: (650) 581-0058 (San Mateo) JobTrain Job training for economically disadvantaged, unemployed, or underemployed adults & independent youth. Website: http://www.jobtrainworks.org/ Phone: (650) 330-6429
moments of recreation cont. standing and capable of expressing the darkest and the lightest of my emotions. Music, art, and literature have a power unlike anything a single human possesses. It’s strange, given that all works of art are made by humans. But, once created, the works take on a power of their own. They are filled with personality and everyone who interacts with them is able to draw something unique and special from the encounter. There are those moments when you hear a song and feel like it is speaking just to you, like it was made for you and you alone. It’s shocking to realize that other people have felt the same emotions you’re feeling, that no matter how alone and misunderstood you feel, you are not alone because there are others out there who understand. There is often a lot of pressure to make friends and to connect with others in order to be considered “normal.” When we don’t want to or can’t engage in social activities, sometimes people shame us or tell us that we should be doing something differently, that we should be different. Perhaps they don’t understand or have forgotten what it’s like to feel alone even though you’re surrounded by others, to feel like you have to pretend to be something or someone other than yourself. The Arts never shame and they never expect you to be anything other than who you are. They rage with you, cry with you, love with you, mourn with you, and they provide words for emotions you never knew how to describe. They can show you the light at the end of the tunnel. They can become the light that guides you through whatever darkness you are currently facing. The Arts are humanity in its purest form and they have an incredibly power to heal. When connections with others feels like too much, find connection in music, art, and/or literature.
Nourishing the spiritual self
HOUSING
By: Rick Ralphson
Spirituality is about life. In fact, the origins of the word all point to life. Whether it’s the Hebrew ruah, the Greek pneuma, or the Latin, spiritus, they all mean breath – essential, of course, to life. Spirituality is about breath – it’s about life.
hope that a friend may enjoy her birthday, and we do something to help make that happen (otherwise, it is just wishful thinking). We work for a better, more positive future with that degree, new job, or volunteer work. Who/what gives you hope?
Without breath – more specifically without oxygen for more than a precious few minutes – we simply cannot live. But spirituality refers to something deeper than oxygen. What about us from our depths do we want to communicate (breathe out) to others, to the world? And what from outside us do we want to breathe in?
Love means, among other things, self-gift. According to the Greeks, there are many types of love: e.g., eros (romance); philia (friendship); agape (self -gift). All are important, but agape, selfgiving love, is the most accurate understanding of what people mean when they quote “God is Love.” (A descriptive summary phrase in the Christian Scriptures.) How are you and others in your life agape?
There are countless ways to help answer those questions. I suggest one that concerns faith, hope, and love (the theological virtues). What follows is a brief reflection on each of the words and a technique to help identify – and relish – them in our lives. The words faith, hope, and love are used frequently –in very helpful and also not-so-helpful ways. All three focus on and are central to healthy, life-giving relationships.
We receive and give faith, hope and love in so many different ways each day. The key is to acknowledge and ponder them so that they may increase within – and beyond – us. I recommend the following spiritual practice: Take a moment at least once per day for 5-15 minutes to answer these questions: 1) Where have you experienced an increase in faith, hope, or love today? 2) Where have you experienced the opposite: lack of trust, despair, self-centeredness? The more you can remain with your answers to #1, the better. Relish the life-giving connections and relationships in your life by remembering them, enjoying the feelings, journaling about them, Faith is about trust, as well as discussing them with loved ones, giving confidence and honesty. We actively put thanks for them, etc. And the more you our faith – we trust – in everything from can let go of your answers to #2, the our phone service provider to the divine. better. Focusing on and staying with your We express faith hundreds of times daily experiences of faith, hope, and love will in a huge variety of ways. What helps certainly help the process of letting go. you trust (yourself, others, the divine)? You may even breathe a bit easier too. And in what/whom do you want to trust? For more examples of this type of spiritual practice, check out the Hope, not to be confused with following: wishful thinking, is also about trust but also includes desire. Hope is the active http://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ desiring – and working for – a certain ignatian-prayer/the-examen something. (Hope, like all the virtues, necessarily requires action/work.) We
Supported Housing we provide affordable housing for over numerous clients. Caminar works closely with the Housing Authority to assist clients in accessing federal housing subsidy programs such as Shelter Plus Care, Section 8, and Aftercare. Phone: (650) 393-8906 Move to Work Program The MTW program assists families to rent housing in the private market by subsidizing a portion of each family’s monthly rent. In addition, the MTW program provides case management services, financial incentives and other supportive services to program participants. Website: https://www.smchousingwaitlist.org/ landing
OTHER RESOURCES San Mateo County Human Services Agency Job training, employment centers, Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Housing Authority, child care, family support, economic development. work experience & placement for people who receive public assistance, are lowincome, or who have mental health concerns. Website: http://hsa.smcgov.org/ Phone: (650) 802-7507 San Mateo county Network of Care Website: http://sanmateo.networkofcare.org/mh/ index.aspx Phone: 211
FINANCIAL COACHING SparkPoint at Skyline college provides financial coaches who can work one-onone to do budget planning, credit score review, debt review and debt reduction planning, and more. Phone: 650.738.7035 Skyline College Building 1, floor 2, Room 1222 330 College Drive San Bruno, CA 94066
Self-Nurturing inspired by seeking safety Adapted From Seeking Safety by Lisa Najavits (2002). Copyright by The Guilford Press. Examples of Safe Self-Nurturing Activities
Are you engaging in self-nurturing activities??? Given our busy lives, it is either difficult to engage in pleasurable activities or it is hard to refrain from over indulging in pleasurable activities. Luckily, we have the rest of our lives to discover how to incorporate safe selfnurturing activities into our lives. One way to do this is to create a self-nurturing plan. In order to create such a plan, consider following this three step plan: Step One 1)
2)
3)
Take a moment and reflect on the activities you would like to do. Make a list of these activities in your journal (notebook, or online wellness resource, etc…) Next to each activity, include details of importance (i.e., what activity, how often, on what day, at what time, for how long, how will you make it happen, how will you remember to do it, and how will you feel if you do it , etc.).
Step Two 1)
2)
3)
Now reflect on the activities that are not safe when done in excess. Take a look at the examples listed in the next column. Make a list of these activities in your journal (notebook, or online wellness resource, etc…) Next to each activity, include details of importance (i.e., what activity, how will you set limits, how will you remember to do it, who can help, etc.).
Step Three Make a commitment to follow your plan and enlist allies to help you see if through.
Taking Walks Socializing with safe friends Reading Travel Movies Crafts or hobbies Sports Enjoying peers Club activities Music Exercise Eating Out Local trips Baking or cooking Dance Visiting museums Playing games
Nurturing your body your liver delivers | protect it from harm Reprinted with permission: https:// newsinhealth.nih.gov/issue/mar2014/feature1 Your liver works hard to protect your health. It’s a rugged, strong organ. But certain things—like alcohol, drugs, viruses, and excess weight—can damage it. You may not even realize when your liver is struggling, because liver disease usually has no symptoms until the problem becomes severe. Help your liver to guard your health by avoiding the things that might cause it harm. The liver is the largest organ inside your body. It’s about the size of a football, and rests just under your ribs against the right side of your stomach. “The liver performs an amazing set of functions that keep you healthy,” says Dr. Jake Liang, a liver specialist and researcher at NIH. Your liver helps fight infections. It cleans your blood by getting rid of your body’s natural waste products and other harmful substances, including alcohol and drugs. “The liver also transforms the foods you eat into energy and nutrients your body can use, and it regulates how nutrients flow to different parts of the body when needed,” Liang says.
Taking an in interesting class Volunteering Learning a new skill Enjoying the outdoors Writing Religious services Meditation Enjoying computers Warms baths Playing with children Going to events Others???
Examples of unsafe activities when done in excess
Shopping Food Watching TV Gambling Partying Work Pornography Exercise Video or computer games Internet Sex Others???
Your liver can keep working even if part of it is damaged or removed. But if it starts to shut down completely—a condition known as liver failure—you can survive for only a day or 2 unless you get emergency treatment. Many things can affect liver function. Some liver problems are inherited from your parents, some are caused by viruses (certain kinds of hepatitis), and some are related to your behavior. Certain liver diseases go away on their own. Others can last a lifetime and cause serious illness.
your liver delivers cont.
Another common type of liver disease— known as viral hepatitis—can be caused by at Although liver disease often has no least 5 different viruses, named hepatitis A, B, C, symptoms, warning signs can include a swollen D, and E. These infections can injure your liver abdomen, nausea, itching, or jaundice (having a and keep it from working properly. yellow tint to the skin and the whites of the “Collectively, about 20% of people eyes). worldwide may be affected by a hepatitis virus NIH supports large research networks infection,” Liang says. “It’s a major public health across the country to learn more about liver problem.” The most common types in the United disease. For instance, teams of scientists States are hepatitis A, B, and C. nationwide have joined forces to study rare and Each hepatitis virus causes a different form often-deadly liver disorders that strike newborns of liver disease. All the viruses can trigger acute, and older children. or short-term, hepatitis. Hepatitis B, C, and D can “Research networks are important because also cause chronic hepatitis, in which the no single medical center has enough patients infection lasts a long time, sometimes for your with rare diseases to do a rigorous study or test whole life. new treatments,” says Dr. Edward Doo, a liver People are often exposed to hepatitis A and disease expert at NIH. “With this large pediatric E viruses through contaminated food or water. network, we can combine the efforts and “The other hepatitis viruses often pass through expertise of many clinical centers that specialize some type of break in the skin barrier, sometimes in rare childhood liver diseases.” by injections or by close contact with blood or Other NIH studies are focusing on an other body fluids,” Liang adds. Hepatitis B, C, and increasingly common type of liver disorder— D can spread through sexual contact. known as fatty liver disease—that affects both Because many infected people have few children and adults. A healthy liver contains just a symptoms, they may not realize they have viral little fat or none at all. But too much fat buildup hepatitis. They can spread the infection to others in liver cells can cause swelling and damage. Over without even knowing it. time, the excess fat can lead to cirrhosis, liver Viral hepatitis is often treated with antiviral cancer, and even liver failure. medications. Hepatitis A, B, and D infections can “Estimates vary, but 2 different studies in be prevented by vaccines. Practicing good the past decade suggest that about 30% to 45% hygiene—such as washing your hands and of Americans have excess fat in the liver,” says avoiding contact with infected blood—can also Dr. Yaron Rotman, an NIH specialist in fatty liver help block the spread of viral hepatitis. disease. “It’s also becoming a huge problem for Another potentially dangerous type of liver children and teens.” disease can be caused by taking certain drugs or Drinking too much alcohol can cause fatty supplements. “It’s important to be aware that a liver. But a growing number of people who drink lot of drugs can cause liver injury,” Liang says. little or no alcohol are also being diagnosed with “This especially can be a problem for people who fatty liver. “The rise seems to be tied to the are taking several different medications.” nation’s obesity epidemic,” says Doo. Taking too much acetaminophen (Tylenol) is Studies suggest that fatty liver disease now the most common cause of sudden liver failure. also affects about 1 in 10 children nationwide. As “It’s particularly dangerous if you mix alcohol with adults, most children with fatty liver disease with acetaminophen or certain other drugs,” are overweight and resistant to insulin, a critical Liang adds. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist hormone that regulates energy. about all the medications you take and how they In its early stages, fatty liver disease usually might affect your liver. has no symptoms. It’s often first detected by Maintain a healthy weight, stay physically blood tests for liver function. But these tests active, and limit your alcohol use. Keep your liver can’t tell the difference between mild fatty healthy, and it will protect you for a lifetime. buildup and more serious damage. And some people with fatty liver disease can have normal For more information about Liver blood tests. The only sure way to diagnose the Cancer and Hepatitis visit the severity of fatty liver disease is by getting a liver following sites: biopsy. For this test, a doctor inserts a thin needle through the skin and into the liver to remove a small piece of tissue for analysis. AMERICAN LIVER FOUNDATION NIH-funded scientists have been searching http://www.liverfoundation.org/ for simpler ways to measure the severity of fatty liver disease. They’re also conducting clinical VIRAL HEPATITIS RESOURCE CENTER studies to assess possible treatments. There are http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/resources/ currently no approved medications for fatty liver ASIAN LIVER CENTER AT SANFORD UNIVERSITY or its more severe form called NASH, or nonLiver.stanford.edu alcoholic steato-hepatitis. “To treat fatty liver disease, we recommend HEPATITIS B FOUNDATION lifestyle changes: Weight loss for people who are http://www.hepb.org/resources/ overweight, and exercise and a healthy diet to help reduce fat,” Rotman says. “In many patients, HEP C HOPE just a 5-8% reduction in body weight will http://www.hepchope.com/ translate into a large improvement to liver damage.” For people with alcohol-related fatty liver, stopping alcohol use can reverse or prevent further liver injury.
RESOURCES Emergency/Crisis Hotlines STAR VISTA CRISIS HOTLINE 650-579-0350 http://www.star-vista.org/whatwedo_services/education/youth/ crisis_center/svccservices/svcchotline.html
MEDICAL EMERGENCY 911 SUICIDE HOTLINE 800-SUICIDE http://suicidehotlines.com/Self-Injury/
CUTTING 800-366-8288 http://www.selfinjury.com/
RUNAWAY HOTLINE 800-231-6946 http://www.nrscrisisline.org/
CHILD ABUSE HOTLINE 800-422-4453 http://www.childhelpusa.org/
SEXUAL ASSAULT HOTLINE 800-656-4673 http://www.rainn.org/
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE 800-799-7233 http://www.ndvh.org/
ANTI-GANG HOTLINE 800-445-3632 BILL WILSON TEEN CRISIS HOTLINE 888-247-7717 http://www.billwilsoncenter.org/
ANTI-HATE ANTI-DISCRIMINATION HOTLINE 408-279-0111
Free Clinics & Health Services MAYVIEW COMMUNITY CLINIC ( MOUNTAIN VIEW ) (650) 965-3323 http://www.mayview.org/
RAVENSWOOD FAMILY HEALTH CENTER ( EAST PALO ALTO ) (650) 330-7400 http://www.epa.net/clinic/
ARBOR FREE CLINIC ( PALO ALTO ) (650) 724-1332 http://arbor.stanford.edu/
SAMARITAN HOUSE FREE CLINIC ( REDWOOD CITY ) (650) 839-1447 http://www.samaritanhouse.com/new/programs/medical_clinic.shtml
SAMARITAN HOUSE FREE CLINIC ( SAN MATEO ) (650) 347-1556 http://www.samaritanhouse.com/new/programs/medical_clinic.shtml
Sexual and Reproductive Health Services PLANNED PARENTHOOD 1-800-230-PLAN http://www.plannedparenthood.org/pp2/portal/healthservices/
AMERICA 'S PREGNANCY HELPLINE 1- 888-672-2296 http://www.thehelpline.org/
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE (STD) HOTLINE 1-800227-8922 http://www.iwannaknow.org/
AIDS HOTLINE (ENGLISH) 1-800-342-2437 http://www.ashastd.org/nah/faqreg.html
Volunteering Opportunities VOLUNTEER MATCH http://www.volunteermatch.org/ SAN MATEO VOLUNTEERSOURCE http://www.cityofsanmateo.org/ index.aspx?NID=2309 BAY AREA INFORMATION CENTER http://www.volunteerinfo.org/ THE VOLUNTEER CENTER http://www.thevolunteercenter.net/ HANDS ON BAY AREA http://www.handsonbayarea.org/
OTHER SITES WITH VOLUNTEER SEARCH FUNCTIONS Idealist.org Patch.org Indeed.org SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK http://www.shfb.org/volunteer SAN MATEO LIBRARY http://www.smcl.org/en/content/ volunteer SUSTAINABLE SAN MATEO http://www.sustainablesanmateo.org/ home/donatevolunteer/volunteeropportunities/ NAMI SAN MATEO COUNTY http://namisanmateo.org/volunteeropportunities-2/ SAN MATEO MEDICAL CENTER http://www.sanmateomedicalcenter.org/ content/Volunteer.htm
COUNTY OF SAN MATEO PARKS DEPARTMENT http://parks.smcgov.org/volunteers
COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS http://www.fema.gov/communityemergency-response-teams Become trained via Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program to assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. AMERICAN RED CROSS http://www.redcross.org/local/ca/sanfrancisco Volunteer to provide “relief to those affected by disasters and empowers individuals in our community to prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.” RECYCLE WORKS: PROGRAM OF SAN MATEO COUNTY http://www.recycleworks.org/ volunteer.html “Help out with your community and get involved in local efforts to preserve the environment. In San Mateo County you will find many opportunities to make a difference.” YMCA OF SAN FRANCISCO PENINSULA http://www.ymcasf.org HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE http://sancarlosrestore.habitatgsf.org/ “Brief description of Organization: The ReStore is a volunteer driven retail store that funds building Habitat homes by selling donated home improvement items to the public.”
PENINSULA HUMANE SOCIETY & SPCA http://www.peninsulahumanesociety.org/ volunteer/ “build healthy relationships between people and animals. SAVE THE BAY http://www.savesfbay.org/volunteering “Restoration programs utilize community volunteers to ... enhance our region's quality of life.” SAN MATEO COUNTY HEALTH FOUNDATION http://www.smchf.org/donate/volunteer/ Volunteer opportunities at the Medical Center or at the Foundation office. SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL http://www.svdp-sanmateoco.org/ youthvolunteer.html Volunteer to help the homeless in San Mateo County. CITY ARTS OF SAN MATEO http://www.cityartsofsanmateo.org/ volunteer.htm Volunteer by sharing your talents and skills or learning new ones. SAN MATEO GARDEN CENTER http://sanmateogardencenter.org/ volunteer
YAIL Reflections YOUNG ADULT INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM
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