You want to help. We make it easy. TM
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One Person Can Truly Make a Difference
"The Starfish Story"
-- from Loren Eiseley, the American anthropologist, natural science writer, educator, and philosopher
One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a young boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked,
"What are you doing?"
The youth replied, "Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them back, they'll die."
"Son," the man said, "don't you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can't make a difference!"
After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said..."I made a difference for that one."
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Our Mission
Napa Valley CanDo is a vibrant, all-volunteer
service organization.
We connect, inspire, and empower neighbors by making it easy to take positive action as volunteers and to learn about our community.
All of CanDo’s efforts are designed to strengthen and enrich the lives of Napa Valley residents. We create and implement dynamic projects when we recognize unmet community needs, and collaborate with other local service organizations to further our mutual goals.
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Quickly Spot Volunteer Opportunities
This buttery yellow color indicates volunteer opportunities. Have an hour or two? CanDo helps make it easy to make a difference.
This image indicates a family friendly event.
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Words Matter
"Every election is determined
by the people who show up."
--- Larry J. Sabato
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CanDo Quick Tip
are some unusual and healthy tips for cooking delicious vegetarian meals.
(Click on the white lettering inside the box to see the featured video.)
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Compost Corner
Diseased Tomatoes?
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Q. Hey Tim, I volunteer at CanDo's Garden for the Food Bank. There is a conversation going on about disease in the tomato plants. They are being pulled out now. Someone suggested they go into the landfill since they are diseased. I would guess that they should not go in a backyard compost pile but the industrial compost operation would get hot enough to kill any pathogens.
What is your take?
-- Bob
A. You are correct – please don’t landfill the diseased tomato plants (or any other diseased plants). They should go in our compost carts.
While they are not recommended for backyard composting since backyard compost piles typically do not get that hot, our industrial composting gets hot enough (over 131 F for 22 days) to kill any harmful pathogens.
Responses graciously provided by Tim Dewey-Mattia,
Napa Recycling & Waste Services
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Bits and Pieces
Let the a cappella harmonies of
KINGS RETURN QUARTET
soothe you with their exquisite rendition of
Ubi Caritas, a modern take on an
ancient hymn.
No recording studio is needed for
these talented musicians.
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IMPORTANT NEWS!
The upper age restriction on many COAD VOC volunteer opportunities is no longer an issue. Several tasks that are "in the field" will now be open to those 65+.
Last week more than a dozen of you registered with Volunteers on Call. Thank you! From American Canyon to Calistoga, volunteers are needed to assemble boxes and bags of groceries, distribute food at drive-throughs, deliver boxes to families. Many shifts are just two hours.
How does this happen? CanDo is proud to have teamed up with Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) to organize volunteers county-wide for nonprofits delivering services during this crisis. CanDo’s co-founder, hilary Zunin, has co-chaired Volunteers on Call since March. It has a real CanDo flavor.
Ready to help? If you’re not registered with VOC, sign up online here. hilary will be in touch with next steps.
If you're already part of VOC, you were emailed a new list of volunteer needs Sunday night.
Not able to help outside as a volunteer?
Join generous CanDo members who have donated
$20,506
to the Napa Food Bank since the pandemic struck.
Make checks payable to Napa Valley Food Bank
Mail to: Napa Valley Food Bank
1766 Industrial Way - Napa, CA 94559
Please write CanDo on the memo line.
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It's Worth Repeating
Propositions are Important
Here is the League of Women Voters'
Non-partisan "Easy Voter Guide."
Learn the Pro and Cons of each CA State Ballot Proposition. Available in multiple languages.
Haven't received your ballot? Call the Napa County Registrar of Voters office:
707.253.4321 (8-5PM M-F)
Toll Free 888.494.8356
from Upvalley or American Canyon
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ONE MORE VOLUNTEER NEEDED
this Saturday, Oct. 24, to help us gather food donated by remarkable Napa Farmers Market vendors. It goes to the Food Bank, and to Chef Ken Frank at La Toque who prepares meals for clients at the South Napa Homeless Shelter.
Volunteers are needed in the upcoming weeks.
Learn more and sign up here.
- Choose any Saturday that works for you, year-round.
- Takes less than two hours.
- No ongoing obligation.
- Older teens and families are welcome.
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Click the red button below for details or to sign up. Questions? Email Karen,
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Story of Plastic
Documentary Film and Panel Discussion
Sponsor: League of Women Voters of Napa County
The League of Women Voters of Napa County is pleased to host a screening of Story of Plastic followed by a panel discussion around taking action on this issue. This updated film takes a sweeping look at the human-made crisis of plastic pollution and the worldwide effect on the health of our planet and the people who inhabit it.
You may remember that CanDo spearheaded Napa county's first plastic bag ban. It's now time to strengthen it. Watch the film, then sign up for the panel discussion with local folks to hear what's happening locally to improve Napa County's current efforts to keep plastic trash out of the landscape and the landfill. (Discussion: Wednesday, October 28, 7 – 8:15PM via ZOOM)
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CanDo Crowd Sourcing
Like we said, there are many ways to help
build strong communities.
Sometimes it's volunteering.
Sometimes it's listening.
Sometimes it's cash.
Sometimes it's sharing
information/experience/expertise.
So here's a quick crowd source question:
It doesn't go in the blue, gray, or brown bins. What's a diligent CanDoer to do with film plastic?
Local sites seem to change weekly.
Where do you
return film plastic for recycling?
Here's a free start. The ever-observant Camille reports that Raley's has moved their plastic film collection bin outside the entrance
(Home Depot side), right by the propane.
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The CanDo Spotlight
Events and Volunteer Opportunities
from Groups Around the Valley.
Tell 'em you heard about it through CanDo!
Note: Posting events in this "Spotlight" does not constitute an endorsement by Napa Valley CanDo unless expressly stated. We list a variety of opportunities and programs we feel may be of interest to our readers.
Explore! Enjoy! Get involved!
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GREYWATER SYSTEMS
Sponsor: UC Master Gardeners of Napa County
As part of Napa Library’s H2O Superhero Program, City of Napa Water and the Napa County Resource Conservation District (RCD) are teaming up for this Water-Wise Workshop live on Facebook and Zoom. Learn how used water from your indoor appliances and fixtures can be directed to the plants in your yard. The City’s Water Conservation Specialist, Josh Stokes, will describe the sources of “greywater” and demonstrate the key steps in setting up a laundry-to-landscape greywater system. Your clothes washer can become an alternative source of irrigation water! Click here for Zoom registration or join on Facebook Live.
DAY/DATE/TIME: Wed., October 21, 6:30-8:30PM
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DOCUMENTARY SCREENING: KISS THE GROUND
WITH DISCUSSION ON LOCAL SOIL SOLUTIONS
Sponsor: UC Master Gardeners and Napa Climate NOW
On Nov. 12th the Napa Master Gardeners and Napa Climate NOW! will
co-host an exciting evening of learning together about how healthy soil and soil practices can make a big impact on Climate Change. The main event of the evening is the screening of the new documentary Kiss the Ground, a hopeful and informative film featuring stars you know touting practices to heal our earth. Immediately prior to the screening, Master Gardeners, the Executive Director of Napa Green, and a Napa grape grower will briefly talk about their regenerative gardening and growing practices. Register on the UC Master Gardener public website calendar to attend as space will be limited. Click here to register. A ZOOM link will be emailed to registrants a couple of days prior to the event.
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Other Things You CanDo to Get Involved
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CanDo has a simple, yet dynamic program to share food with neighbors in need every two months while building community. Our Napa Valley Food Project works in collaboration with the CANV Napa Valley Food Bank. Email Marilyn.
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Preventing food insecurity: In CanDo's Garden for the Food Bank we grow fresh, local produce for the CAN-V Food Bank. CanDo's Food Rescue Team collects produce from generous Napa Farmers' Market vendors for the Food Bank and Homeless Shelter. Email Karen.
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Our volunteers help raise funds and awareness for local nonprofits in a year-end giving campaign. 2.3 million dollars has been raised to date and CanDo takes no fee. You make a choice. You make a difference. We make it easy. Help is welcome all year long. Email hilary or Nancy.
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Waterway Keepers began as a CanDo project. Now it's orchestrated by our friends at the Napa Co. Resource Conservation District. Volunteers help maintain our river and streams to keep them vibrant and alive. Email Ashley.
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New to CanDo?
Want to receive this nifty weekly eNewsletter?
The CanDo Connection is filled with
volunteer opportunities
and events to help you connect with community.
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Like to Have Your Event in the CanDo Spotlight?
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Are you a nonprofit in need of volunteers? Or do you have a fundraiser, educational opportunity or fun event you'd like to share in CanDo's SPOTLIGHT?
Space permitting, posts run up to three weeks prior to your event. Photos you'd like us to consider MUST be sent as a jpg.
FFI: Learn more and submit event here.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Sunday, 6PM for the following Tuesday's blast.
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The Choices We Make
Napa Valley CanDo seeks to inspire and facilitate action by alerting interested Valley resi-dents about opportunities for service. If you participate as a volunteer in an activity that you learned about through Napa Valley CanDo, whether initiated by CanDo or another orga-nization, please take personal responsibility for your involvement. Use common sense.
Only you can determine whether an activity is a good fit, that is to say compatible
with your interests and abilities.
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PO Box 855 Napa, CA 94559
707.252.7743
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