Events Calendar

It is the mission of Trees for Oakland to contribute to the urban forest in all of Oakland by planting and maintaining trees in the city, with emphasis on areas with limited canopy.   An Oakland that is lusher, and more beautiful, with better air quality will lead to the improved well-being of people who live, work, and visit the city.  Save the Trees hosts events in a different Oakland City Park on the third Sunday of each month with a priority for parks in low-income communities. 
 
On May 21st we will care for newly-planted trees at Arroyo Viejo Park. Please meet at the recreation entrance 7701 Krause Avenue in Oakland.  The workday will be from 9:45 am to 12:30 pm.  Children of all ages are welcome; waiver forms will be provided at the site.

Please bring work gloves, water, and a light lunch if you can stay after the event.

Who's Coming?

Contact: Paul Chapman '70 

West Side Campaign Against Hunger (WSCAH) will be rocking the block once again this Spring on Sunday, May 21 from 12-4pm. Join us for a meaningful day where you can make an impact and gather with the WSCAH community.  

There will be activities for the entire family including packing thousands of meals for our neighbors in need, writing cards to customers and elected officials, life-sized games, poetry reading, live music and delicious food and drink provided by local partners.

West Side Campaign Against Hunger is on a mission to alleviate hunger by ensuring that all New Yorkers have access with dignity to a choice of healthy food and supportive services.

Who's Coming?

Contact: Rachel Laibson (WSCAH) / Cynthia Roney '84 MBA

Join Yale Day of Service co-chair Rob Greenly '83 MBA to create "Birthdays in a Box" by wrapping large boxes and filling them with items needed to celebrate a child’s birthday in a homeless shelter.

Birthday Wishes’ mission is to provide birthday parties to children experiencing homelessness. Birthday Wishes believes that all children, regardless of their living situation, should celebrate their birthdays joyfully, surrounded by family, friends, and others who care.  You can help make this happen for those children!

We will gather virtually via Zoom on Sunday May 21st at 1:00pm to watch a video about Birthday Wishes, get instructions on how to build a Birthday in a Box, and then build our boxes together from the comfort of our own home. 

**This project involves some upfront shopping on your part.** 

Review the instructions and shopping list before May 21.

After your box is built you can drop it off at Rob Greenly's house in Newton, MA anytime before 12noon on Tues, May 23rd (address given on Sunday, May 21st). Or you can join other Yalies on Tuesday, May 23rd at 1:30pm as we drop off our boxes together at Birthday Wishes HQ at 24 Superior Dr, Suite B1, Natick, MA 01760.

Details for the Tuesday, May 23 delivery event

Contact: Rob Greenly '83 MBA

The Mercy Learning Center (MLC) mission is to provide literacy and life skills training to low income women in Bridgeport, CT. The center serves about 1,000 women per year, from 50 countries of origin, and teaches English, Math, Science, Social Studies/Civics and computing/technology to prepare students for High School Equivalency diplomas, U.S. Citizenship exams, job interviews and college careers. MLC has a holistic approach and also offers social services, counseling, food and diaper assistance and childcare. CEO Jane Ferreira, Yale YDS Class of ‘89 often says, “When you educate a woman, you educate a family” and all donations will stretch across generations.

Donation Drive: What is Needed and How to Contribute:
The MLC is in urgent need of donations and family friendly Food Pantry & toiletries for their members for at home use. Given the pandemic’s impact on their community there are multiple ways to engage and contribute as follows:

• May 22: In Person Drop Off: For those interested, we will drop off a care package on Monday, May 22, and take photos with The MLC staff and families, as available. Exact time to be scheduled in mid April 2023. See who's coming! 
• May 12: Virtual Conversation: Optional Zoom call Friday afternoon, May 12 with Jane Ferreira, President & CEO of The Mercy Learning Center and Guest Speakers on “The Urgency of Accelerating Women’s Literacy”
• Ongoing: Cash/Credit Donations: Send directly to MLC and note YDOS 23
• Ongoing: Food Pantry & Toiletries: Non-Perishable Healthy Foods and Toiletries can be sent via Amazon.com or Walmart.com for Monday to Friday delivery dates at any time to The Mercy Learning Center, 637 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604-4611.
  • Please note YDOS 23 in gift receipt comments for tracking.
  • Favorites of their families would be healthy cereal, soup, canned tuna and chicken, bags of rice and dried beans, pasta and sauce, canned vegetables and fruits, peanut butter and jelly for groceries
  • Priority toiletries include toothbrushes (adult and child), toothpaste, floss, soap, shampoo, deodorant, baby wipes, tampons and sanitary napkins for toiletries.

Site Contacts: Lee Race '93 MBA & Kylie Race

Social Sharing: If you’d like to include words of encouragement and name and Yale affiliation or a photo as part of our care package and social post for our YDOS for The Mercy Learning Center please email Lee & Kylie.

Thank you to past participants, it’s been an incredibly meaningful effort to support The Mercy Learning Center mission, staff and community.

*Please note: this program is closed to further registrations. Please contact your hose if you can no longer attend.*

Yale Day of Service volunteers will deliver Birthday Boxes to Birthday Wishes HQ for children experiencing homelessness. These pre-assembled boxes provide party supplies and wrapped gifts for children celebrating birthdays. Birthday Wishes believes that all children, regardless of their living situation, should celebrate their birthdays joyfully, surrounded by family, friends, and others who care.

This event is in connection with the virtual birthday box building session on May 21. Volunteers are welcome to participate in one or both sessions depending on availability and comfort with in-person meetings. 

Who's Coming?

Contact: Rob Greenly '83 MBA

Join us as we support the great work of the Hawaii Nature in supporting their mission to foster awareness, appreciation, understanding, and stewardship of Hawai‘i's environment by educating children with an interactive and immersive approach.

We will be joining them for their Mālama Makiki Volunteer Work Days on Saturday May 27 from 8:30 - 11:30 am.  Depending on what their needs are and number of participants, the volunteer session may include one or more of the following projects: landscaping, stream clearing, invasive plant removal, vine eradication, and/or trail work.

Contact: Nathalie Razo '09

*Please Note: This program has reached maximum volunteer capacity. Please contact your hosts if you can no longer attend*

Join us and the Nature Nexus Institute (formerly part of the Los Angeles Audubon organization) at your local state park--the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook in Culver City! This has been one of our most popular service sites for the Yale Day of Service, so sign up early!
 
We will be helping to restore and maintain one of the last coastal sage scrub communities in the area. We will be weeding and planting native plants; tools will be provided. Children with parental supervision are welcome (release form to be sent to registered participants in advance and/or provided onsite).

Space/Capacity Limit is 30 people.
 
Recommended Attire:
Wear long pants, a hat, sunscreen, and closed-toed shoes, bring your own reusable water bottle (pre-filled), and gardening gloves if you have them. No single-use plastic water bottles, let's do our part to eliminate plastic pollution.

Parking & Meet-up Location:
Free parking passes will be provided for volunteers when you arrive at check-in. Meet outside the visitor center (by the parking lot all the way at the top of the hill). 

Agenda:
9:00 AM - Check-in & Registration
9:30 AM - Main Activity Begins
12:00 PM - End of Activity and Bring Your Own Lunch (BYOL), Networking/Social Time

Who's Coming?

Contact: Tony Bancroft and Kohei Kuwahara

On average every day 11 Canadians are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), an unpredictable illness that affects vision, balance, memory, and mobility.

Every person participating in and/or fundraising for the MS Walk makes a lasting positive impact. To participate in this walk you are not under any obligation to fundraise or make a donation; awareness and education are a large part of the MS mission.

Volunteers should join team Mighty Strong through the registration link. Enter YDOS into the field for the field for 'Apt/Suite/Other' on the registration form, so we know who you are. 

Contact: Izabela Klosowski

On average every day 11 Canadians are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), an unpredictable illness that affects vision, balance, memory, and mobility.

Every person participating in and/or fundraising for the MS Walk makes a lasting positive impact. To participate in this walk you are not under any obligation to fundraise or make a donation; awareness and education are a large part of the MS mission.

Volunteers should join team Mighty Strong through the registration link. Enter YDOS into the field for the field for 'Apt/Suite/Other' on the registration form, so we know who you are. 

Contact: Izabela Klosowski