7th Annual Shop With a PAL Project 2017 will be at the Target store, 2004 El Camino Real, Santa Clara:
The Santa Clara Police Activities League is continuing our annual community outreach program designed to spread holiday cheer. The program, entitled “Shop With a PAL,” will pair volunteers and 50 local students for a holiday shopping spree at a local department store. The campaign will also provide gifts and a Holiday food basket for an additional 16 local families. The endeavor has attracted a number of Santa Clara partners to include the Santa Clara Police Officer’s Association (SCPOA), the Santa Clara Unified School District (SCUSD), Mariani’s Inn and Restaurant and this year, we are pleased to announce that the new Target Store, 2004 El Camino Real, Santa Clara will be helping us this year for shopping with the kids.
“Shop With a PAL” is a continuation of Santa Clara P.A.L.’s efforts to find beneficial ways to reach out to members of the Santa Clara community. The “Shop With a P.A.L.” campaign will consist of two different phases.
During Phase One, SCUSD’s Jennifer Alcazar Dericco and Pat Eldridge will identify 50 children in our community who would benefit from the “Shop With a PAL” program. All of the kids are from the district’s middle schools and high schools. Forty plus volunteers have also been asked to come forward to assist the kids with their purchases. The kids have been asked to arrive at Target Department Store located at 2004 Camino Real no later that 8:00 am on Saturday, December 16th. Upon arrival the kids will be paired with their “Shopping PAL”. Each child will be given $200.00 to purchase Christmas gifts for themselves and their family members. Target, which will already be in the midst of a Christmas sale, has also agreed to provide our shoppers with an additional 10% off on their purchases which will allow that $200.00 to stretch even further. The kids will have until 9:00am to make their purchases. At 9:15 a.m. Royal Coach Tours bus service will transport the kids from Target to Mariani’s Inn and Restaurant (located at 2500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA) where the kids and volunteers will be treated to breakfast by the Mariani’s staff. The menu consists of eggs, pancakes, sausages, cereal, juice and coffee. Following breakfast, Mariani’s will also provide “wrapping stations,” so that the kids will have an opportunity to wrap their presents. Phase one concludes by 11:30 a.m.
Phase Two consists of two aspects, which will include a Christmas Eve meal & present delivery. Again, with the help of Jennifer and Pat, we have been able to identify 16 families who will benefit from the “Shop With a P.A.L.” program. Each family will receive a Holiday Meal Basket on December 23th. The basket will contain all of the fixings for a traditional Christmas Day feast and will be prepared by the staff of Mariani’s Inn. Jennifer and Pat have also taken the time to determine whether or not each family has any specific needs or wants that would help them to better enjoy the holiday season. From this “wish list”, Target associates and PAL members will shop for these families and attempt to meet as many needs as possible. A number of volunteers, lead by Santa Clara PAL President, Colette Aldridge, will wrap those items. The meals and gifts will then be delivered by employees of Mariani’s Inn, Board members and SCPD Officers and staff on Christmas Eve.
Timeline:
Saturday, December 16, 2017
8:00 a.m. – Meet & pair up with a child; Shop at Target, 2004 El Camino Real, Santa Clara – Starbucks Coffee and Stan’s donuts provided
9:00 – 9:15 a.m. – In transit to (TBD) from Target by Royal Coach Tours (students)
9:30 -11:30 a.m. – Breakfast and Gift Wrapping
Saturday, December 23, 2017
10:00 a.m.– Delivery of holiday meal baskets & delivery of Christmas presents
If you would like to donate, we will add your LOGO below: Special thanks to the businesses who donated $20-$5000:
Supporters include:$5,000 Level:
Last Year’s Sponsors included:
$650 Level:
$500 Level:
$500 Level:
$400 Level:
$200 Level:
$100 Level:
$150 Level:
$60-95 Level:
$50 Level
$40 Level:
$18-30 Level:
Paula’s homemade Tamales – 408.316.5125 $20/doz.
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Past Events: Link to 2011 Santa Clara Weekly story about Shop With a PAL Project: http://www.santaclaraweekly.com/2011/Issue-52/santa_clara_police_shop_with_local_students.html
Link to 2011 Shop With a PAL Youtube video:
[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z84yPC6d6qw’]
Link to 2011 Shop With a PAL Youtube video – Christmas Day deliveries:
[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=202yWAbm1Fs’]
Past Events: 2012 Shop With a PAL Project:
2012 Shop With a PAL Press Release:
EVENT: Shop With a PAL, 2012
DATE & TIME: Saturday, December 22, 2012, 7:00 am
LOCATION: Kohl’s Department Store, 3700 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA
The Santa Clara Police Activities League (P.A.L.) is pleased to announce the 2012 “Shop with a PAL” program. On Saturday December 22nd, P.A.L. volunteers and Santa Clara Police Officers will pair with local middle school and high school students for a holiday shopping spree at Kohl’s Department Store. Each student will receive a pre-paid store gift card to spend on gifts for themselves and family members. Afterwards, the students will enjoy breakfast at Mariani’s Inn and Restaurant where volunteers and officers will assist with gift-wrapping. Additionally, P.A.L. volunteers and officers will deliver food baskets and gifts to Santa Clara families on Christmas Eve.
The goal of “Shop with a PAL” is to make this holiday season brighter for families chosen by the Santa Clara Unified School District. “Shop with a PAL” is made possible thanks to generous support from the following sponsors: Santa Clara P.A.L., the Santa Clara Police Officers Association, Mariani’s Inn and Restaurant, Kohl’s Department Store, the Santa Clara Unified School District, Master Precision Machining Inc., and the Santa Clara Soroptimist Club.
Santa Clara P.A.L. expands its community outreach to youngsters and their families through events like “Shop with a PAL.” Santa Clara P.A.L. has brought neighborhood children and families together with volunteers in a positive setting for over 40 years,. P.A.L. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching our youth values through self-determination, teamwork and respect for others.
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Release prepared by Lieutenant Matt Hogan (2012)
Administrative Services Division
(408) 615-4865
Link to Santa Clara Weekly story about 2012 Shop With a PAL Project: http://www.santaclaraweekly.com/2013/Issue-1/cops_help_kids_shop.html
Link to 2012 Shop With a PAL Youtube video:
[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft4bl0p_Zsw&list=UUa4nbuL1RdxOx9jf7V7O4_A&index=2′]
Anyone with questions about the event should call Officer Rob Martinez, Santa Clara PAL Executive Director, at (408) 615-4882 or 615-4880
Thanks to the Soccer committee for organizing their annual Toy Cup which helps with some of the donations for the Shop with a PAL project.