Charity events in the San Fernando Valley, Dec. 10-17

Here is this week’s sampling of charities in the San Fernando Valley area that need your support through donations or volunteer work.

If you would like to help victims of the Woolsey fire, check for updates online.

EVENTS

LAPD Devonshire PALS Holiday Toy Drive: Donate a new unwrapped book, game, gift card or toy for children up to age 17 by Dec. 14. Drop off items or a donation at Grieg Smith LAPD Devonshire Youth Center, 8721 Wilbur Ave., Northridge. 818-885-6432. devonshire-pals.org

Gelson’s Toy Drive: Donate new, unwrapped toys during store hours, through Dec. 15. For information on types of toys requested and where they will be donated: bit.ly/2Q9PxoQ Check the website for locations. gelsons.com

San Fernando Valley Arts & Cultural Center seeking volunteer docents: Volunteers are needed for the current “Uncommon Threads” exhibit that runs through Dec. 22. Must be able to commit to three hours, between 11 a.m.-2 p.m. or 2-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Contact Adria Becker at [email protected] 18312 Oxnard St., Tarzana. 818-642-1488. www.sfvacc.org

Flair Cleaners holiday clothing and shoe drive: Locations accepting donations of gently used or new clothes and shoes, through Dec. 31. Donations benefit Helping Hands for the Blind, MEND and the Los Angeles Mission. 337 N. Pass Ave., Burbank (818-843-5657); 4060 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Studio City (818-761-3282); 27011 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661-753-9900). Call for store hours; drop off items inside store. www.flaircleaners.com

American Red Cross blood donations: Blood, especially type O, and platelet donations needed. There are many locations in the San Fernando Valley. Make an appointment by phone 1-800-733-2767, or online redcrossblood.org

Prostate Cancer Foundation: Holiday greeting cards to benefit the foundation. The collection was designed by Jean Fogelberg in memory of her husband, musician Dan Fogelberg. One hundred percent of proceeds goes to the foundation’s efforts to find a cure for prostate cancer. View the four designs and how to order: prostate-cancer-foundation.myshopify.com For more information on Prostate Cancer Foundation: 800-757-2873 or www.pcf.org

Santa Monica Mountains Fund: Donate to the fund to help purchase wildlife tracking cameras destroyed by the Woolsey fire. Biologists use the cameras – 49 were destroyed – to monitor mountain lions and other wildlife, and after the fire, to see what wildlife return to the mountains. The fund also has a campaign to rebuild the historic Paramount Ranch Western Town, in Agoura Hills, that was almost totally destroyed in the wildfire. 805-370-2341. bit.ly/2Pcwa8X

Flair Cleaners holiday clothing and shoe drive: Locations accepting donations of gently used or new clothes and shoes, through Dec. 31. Donations benefit Helping Hands for the Blind, MEND and the Los Angeles Mission. 337 N. Pass Ave., Burbank (818-843-5657); 4060 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Studio City (818-761-3282); 27011 McBean Parkway, Valencia (661-753-9900). Call for store hours; drop off items inside store. www.flaircleaners.com

Volunteer opportunities through VolunteerMatch: Online resource includes opportunities for all ages. Listings are specific to current need by various organizations by zip code. VolunteerMatch now requires verification of your email address before you can refer yourself to an opportunity to ensure that a nonprofit is able to contact you after you have referred yourself to an opportunity. For facts about registering with VolunteerMatch (now required also) and providing email: www.volunteermatch.org/volunteers/resources/faq.jsp#1 Website: www.volunteermatch.org

ONGOING NEEDS

American Cancer Society Discovery Shop: Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. 8738 Tampa Ave., Northridge. 818-772-0194. www.facebook.com/discoveryshopnorthridge

Patriot Bingo at American Legion Post 176: The group holds a bingo night, 5 p.m. Wednesdays. Fee for bingo cards. Proceeds from the post’s programs benefit local veterans. 602 Pico St., San Fernando. 818-361-4621. americanlegionsfpost176.org

Catholic Charities Guadalupe Community Center: Call for current needs. 21600 Hart St., Canoga Park. 213-251-3549.

FISH of West Valley: Call for current needs. 20440 Lassen St., Chatsworth. 818-882-3474.

Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission: Check out ways to donate money and volunteer in the San Fernando Valley. For volunteering: [email protected] or 818-392-0020, Ext. 1002. The mission also has three thrift stores: 18167 Chatsworth St., Granada Hills (9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; 818-363-2050); 19379 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country (10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday; 661-673-5951); 2790 E. Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley (9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; 818-392-0020). www.hopeofthevalley.org

Lutheran Social Services: Call for current needs and volunteer opportunities. Valley Lutheran Church, 7400 Tujunga Ave., North Hollywood. 818-901-9480. www.lssccc.org

MEND food bank: Call for current needs or to volunteer. 10641 San Fernando Road, Pacoima. 818-897-2443. www.mendpoverty.org

North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry: The pantry is supported by a coalition of area religious congregations. Information about food and money donations at First Christian Church of North Hollywood (Disciples of Christ), 818-763-8218. www.nhifp.org

St. Charles Service Center: Call for current needs or to volunteer. 10825 Moorpark St., North Hollywood. 818-985-7365.

Salvation Army: Check out ways to donate money and volunteer in the San Fernando Valley. 818-781-5739. sanfernandovalley.salvationarmy.org

San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission thrift stores: Support the programs at the mission by purchasing goods or donating. Three shops: North Hollywood Super Thrift Store, 13422 Saticoy St. (hours: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday; 818-474-1291); Reseda Super Thrift, 18344 Sherman Way (hours: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday; 818-654-4806), and also, Sun Valley Super Thrift Store, 9007 Lankershim Blvd. (hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday; 818-691-2574). sfvrescuemission.org/thrift

Santa Clarita Food Pantry: Call or check website for current needs. 24133 Railroad Ave., Newhall. 661-255-9078. www.scvfoodpantry.org

SOVA food pantry: Call or check website for current needs. 16439 Vanowen St., Van Nuys. 818-988-7682. www.jfsla.org/sova

Valley Food Bank: Call or check website for current needs. 12701 Van Nuys Blvd., Pacoima. 818-510-4140. www.valleyfoodbank.org

Volunteer League of the San Fernando Valley: Donate gently used or new children’s clothing (to help out K-12 children in the Los Angeles Unified School District through the league’s Centre Clothes Corner). Call or check website or volunteer opportunities and how to make monetary donations. 14603 Hamlin St., Van Nuys. 818-785-4134. www.volunteerleague.com

Volunteers of America: Check out ways to donate money to the group that provides services to children and families in need, the homeless, at-risk youth, veterans, those released from prison and those who are trying to overcome addictions. The organization was founded in 1896 in New York City and opened a home for orphans in the same year in Los Angeles. 213-389-1500. Email: [email protected] voala.org

West Valley Food Pantry: A coalition of churches and synagogues runs the pantry. Call or check website for current needs. The pantry is located on the grounds of Prince of Peace Episcopal Church,  5700 Rudnick Ave., Woodland Hills. 818-346-5554. www.westvalleyfoodpantry.org

Send information at least two weeks in advance to [email protected] 818-713-3708.