You want to help. We make it easy. TM
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May 2021 mark a time of new beginnings for us all. |
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WORDS MATTER
by Arundhati Roy: author of The God of Small Things
"The Pandemic is a Portal"
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"What is this thing that has happened to us? It’s a virus, yes. In and of itself it holds no moral brief. But it is definitely more than a virus. Some believe it’s God’s way of bringing us to our senses. Others that it’s a Chinese conspiracy to take over the world.
"Whatever it is, coronavirus has made the mighty kneel and brought the world to a halt like nothing else could. Our minds are still racing back and forth, longing for a return to 'normality', trying to stitch our future to our past and refusing to acknowledge the rupture. But the rupture exists. And in the midst of this terrible despair, it offers us a chance to rethink the doomsday machine we have built for ourselves. Nothing could be worse than a return to normality.
"Historically, pandemics have forced humans to break with the past and imagine their world anew. This one is no different. It is a portal, a gateway between one world and the next."
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Give!Guide Donations to Date: $555,851.00
Astonishing!
Only three days to go. Can we reach $650,000?
"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." John F. Kennedy
Here are Letters to the Editor from two community members who put their very good intentions into action on behalf of CanDo's Napa Valley Give!Guide
and its 57 nonprofit participants for 2020.
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Napa County OES
Advisory: State to Provide New COVID-19 Testing Vendor for Napa County
Beginning on Tuesday, December 29th, OptumServe will begin providing COVID-19 testing services in Napa County as part of a new contract with the State of California. The State’s contract with Verily, also known as Project Baseline, will end effective Saturday, Dec. 26.
- The new testing services will be provided free of charge five days a week with extended hours from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
- Testing at the Napa Valley Expo will continue on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, excluding holidays.
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The mobile testing days will now take place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, excluding holidays. To access the testing calendar with days, hours and locations, please click here.
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Residents seeking testing need to create a new account here before being able to schedule a test. Please note the new vendor has the ability to test children, as long as a parent or guardian are present.
Who should get tested?
- Those who are symptomatic
- Frontline healthcare workers
- Vulnerable populations
- Those who are required to by the State’s industry guidance
- Essential workers
- General community members as capacity allows
For more information on COVID-19 and actions you can take to #stopthesurge, click here,
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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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Bits and Pieces
Comedy Wildlife
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Because who doesn't need a smile right about now?
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CanDo's 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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CanDo's Food Rescue Team
Your Help Is Needed Now More than Ever
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Back in the pre-pandemic and pre-wildfire days, the Napa Food Pantry on Yajome Street served around 50 households a week. Over the course of a few weeks last spring, that number grew to 300 families, and has continued to grow as the pandemic has worsened. And the Napa Pantry is just one of seven permanent food distribution sites for CANV's Napa Valley Food Bank. During the pandemic, many other food distribution points have been opened, staffed almost entirely by volunteers.
You can help. How? Join CanDo's Food Rescue Team for two hours on the Saturday of your choice. We partner with awesome Farmers Market vendors to deliver fresh produce to the CANV Napa Food Bank and the Homeless Shelter.
Families and teens are welcome. No ongoing commitment is required, but many find this easy gig so gratifying that they keep coming back... much to our joy.
Click the red button below for details or to sign up. Questions? Email Karen.
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Quick Tip
New Tax Deduction for Those Who Don't Itemize: Charitable Contributions
Until now, charitable contributions could only be deducted if taxpayers itemized their deductions.
But now taxpayers who don't itemize deductions may take a charitable deduction of up to $300 for cash contributions made in 2020 to qualifying organizations -- like all of those in
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COMPOST CORNER
Give Your Christmas Tree Another Opportunity to to Enrich the Planet
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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!
If you represent a local nonprofit, you may submit a SPOTLIGHT event or VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY by completing the form found here.
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SPEAKER SERIES: CAREGIVER REGISTRATION 101
Sponsor: City of Napa Park & Recreation Department
This class will review the newly adopted Elder and Dependent Adult Protection law, explain who needs to register as a caregiver, walk through the caregiver registration process as well as the process for verifying whether the caregiver you would like to hire is registered.
DAY/DATE/TIME: Friday, January 15, 2021
LOCATION: Zoom (Please register at least 2 days in advance in order to receive Zoom link via email.)
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2021 CLIMATE ADVOCACY TRAINING
Sponsor: Napa Climate NOW!
If you’ve wanted to get involved in the fight against climate change but you’re not sure where to get started and what’s most important in your local community, Napa Climate NOW! has designed a grassroots training program that gives you all the tools you need to take action. You’ll learn about the science, meet local leaders, and find out about important initiatives happening right now. All attendees will be paired with a climate mentor who can coach them during and after the day and they’ll get to work with a group who has already helped to found a Countywide Climate Action Committee, partnered with the Napa Waste management program, influences building codes, and more. Attendance is free, but all participants who wish to join us must complete our application form.
DAY/DATE/TIME: Saturday, January 23, 2021
LOCATION: Zoom
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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? |
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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