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St. Mary’s has a long-standing tradition of reaching out to share gifts with others at Christmas. We appreciate your generous past support and hope that you will choose to participate once again. This year the Giving Tree will support 10 charitable agencies in Santa Clara County. The color of the ornament represents one of the following organizations:
Casa de Clara (Green) – a Catholic Worker House in downtown San Jose, is home to a dozen women and children. The women, and their children, sign a contract for a year and agree to live in community in the house by helping with all chores and meals. During the day residents go to school or to a job.
Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement Program (Yellow) – manages resettlement and retraining services for refugees who have fled war, persecution, and violence in their home countries. Programs include computer classes and ESL, as well as foster care services for youth found living alone in refugee camps.
Parisi House (Purple) – Parisi House is Santa Clara County’s first mother and child residential alchohol and drug treatmant facility. They provide living facilities for mothers that have made the choice to end the cycle of substance abuse. 
Emergency Housing Consortium (Orange) – provides housing for 10,000 people annually at their nine sites, as well as offering homelessness prevention classes and supportive services. EHC’s goal is simple – to provide shelter and support to help people rebuild their lives.
Heritage Home (Pink) – is the only maternity home in Santa Clara County. Heritage Home provides young women with safe shelter, nutritious meals, counseling, bible study and tutoring. Heritage Home also provides care for these women and their infants for up to 12 months after birth.
House of Grace (Mint Green) – offers a unique program where addicted, abused or homeless women can rebuild their lives, without being separated from their young children. It is a 12 to 14 month residential program. Residents participate in vocational and life skills classes and counseling and attend 12-step meetings.
Next Door, Solution for Battered Women (Blue) – provides a refuge for battered women and their children through emergency shelter, crisis intervention, medical attention, and education for victims. They also advocate a change of community norms through prevention activities and workshops.
West Valley Community Service (Lavender) – An organization that provides a continuum of basic needs, family support and housing services to the
West Valley communities of Santa Clara County. Serves 4000 West Valley individuals and families.
Sacred Heart Community Services (Red) – responds to the needs of the working poor and the homeless through the distribution of food, clothing, toys and household goods. SHCS is committed to assist their clients by offering job counseling, after school tutoring and rental assistance.
Vasona Creek (Light Blue) – is a local rehabilitation center and long-term health care facility. We provide gifts to the many Catholic patients who call Vasona Creek home.
