We've packed a lot into episode 11, literally.  In this episode, my special guest co-host, Katherine MacDougall, Volunteer Services Coordinator for Volunteer San Diego, and I report from two of our holiday projects.  We start our report from one of our special events supporting A Visit From St. Nicholas, the St. Nick Packing Party.  At this event, 2,700 backpacks were filled with toys and other fun things to be delivered to nine of the under served Title I schools in San Diego County.  Check out Episode 9 to learn more about A Visit From St. Nicholas.  After the party, Katherine and I traveled to Casey's Place in San Carlos for Holiday Crafts For A Cause to find over 100 volunteers packaging crafts and other donations for the less fortunate this holiday season.

Sign up for Santa's Room Arts & Crafts on the FLEX Volunteer Program Calendar on the Volunteer San Diego website.  Santa's Room Arts & Crafts is listed on December 16 and 17.  Check out the FLEX Calendar for a lot of other fun holiday volunteer opportunities.

You can support A Visit from St. Nicholas by sponsoring a backpack for a child.  It's as simple as going to my fundraising site at http://www.active.com/donate/vsdstnick/brent06.

If you would like to start your own fundraising drive for backpacks, or create your own personal page, you can do so at http://www.active.com/donate/vsdstnick.

For advance donations to attend the St. Nick Soiree, please go to http://www.active.com/donate/vsdstnick/stnicksoiree, or you can check out the Volunteer San Diego website at www.volunteersandiego.org.  This party will support A Visit From St. Nicholas.  It will be a lot of fun, so please try to attend on November 30th at 6pm at the Luna Lounge in Downtown San Diego.  Donations at the door will be $30.

Don't forget to visit Rubio's restaurants of San Diego to order a St. Nick Combo between now and December 25.  That's the world-famous fish taco, a cheese enchilada, rice, beans, chips, and a drink for only $6.99.  One dollar of every meal goes to Volunteer San Diego to support all of our wonderful volunteer programs, including A Visit From St. Nicholas.

Check out the 501c3Cast.  Sue Carter, Bob Alden, and I got interviewed by Corey at the 501c3Cast recently.  Anyone who is interested in volunteering, volunteer issues, or the work of non-profit organizations will find this show a valuable resource.

Special thanks to Krista and the rest of the team at Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development for the coordination efforts for the St. Nick program, as well as the loan of the space for the storage and packing of the St. Nick materials.

Special thanks to Casey Kinslow and Casey's Place for the loan of the space for Holiday Crafts for a Cause.

Special thanks to our SAVY Leaders and Melissa Higgins, our Youth Leader Coordinator for the fantastic job at Holiday Crafts For A Cause.

And of course, an extra special thanks to all of our volunteers, for making a difference in the community, and for making all of these projects possible.

For more information about holiday volunteer opportunities or other ways you can help, check out our website at www.volunteersandiego.org, or give us a call at 858-636-4131.

Hosts:
Brent Shintani and Katherine MacDougall

Special guest appearances by Volunteer San Diego Board of Directors and Staff:
Debra Patterson, Board of Directors VSD/AXA Advisors, LLC
Melissa Houston, Board of Directors VSD/Rubio's Restaurants, Inc.
Sue Carter, Executive Director
Kelli Ochoa, Director, Development
Melissa Higgins, Americorps Youth Leader Coordinator

Running time:  09:59

We made it to episode 10 of the Volunteer San Diego podcast just in time for Veteran's Day.  I conclude my interview with Jamie Dent, Service Learning Coordinator at Volunteer San Diego highlighting the Stories of Service project.  In this episode, we highlight the efforts of our teen volunteers, community volunteers, and local community veterans who bring together their skills, knowledge, enthusiasm and experience to produce a documentary.

A special screening of the latest Stories of Service documentaries will occur on November 18, 2006.  RSVP to Jessica End at the Volunteer San Diego office at 858-636-4131.

Don't forget that Rubio's Restaurants or San Diego continues the special St. Nick Meal Deal throughout November and December.  For every meal purchased, a dollar is donated to Volunteer San Diego for A Visit From St. Nicholas and other year-round programs.  To support the program with your personal donation, please check out my personal page at www.active.com/donate/vsdstnick/brent06.

We'll be back one more time this month with a bonus episode focusing on holiday events and special announcements.  Check out the 501c3cast for an upcoming episode featuring some of the staff and board members of Volunteer San Diego.  Check out our website at www.volunteersandiego.org, or give us a call at 858-636-4131 for more information on any of our programs.

This is episode 9 of the Volunteer San Diego Podcast.  We're kicking off the holiday season with a special program called A Visit From St. Nicholas.  I spoke with Kelli Ochoa, Director of Development with Volunteer San Diego, about this special event.  Kelli discusses the third annual holiday event, and talks about different ways you can get involved with the program.

If you are interested in helping out with a donation for this special program, or would like to become a fundraiser, please check out my personal page at www.active.com/donate/vsdstnick/brent06. 

To support the program, Rubio's Restaurants in the San Diego area will be sponsoring a special St. Nick Meal Deal combo from November 7 until December 25, 2006.  For every one of these meals purchased, a portion of the funds will be donated to Volunteer San Diego to support A Visit From St. Nicholas and year-round programming.

For more information about this or any of the many programs at Volunteer San Diego, please check out our website at www.volunteersandiego.org or give us a call at 858-636-4131.