How to Help

How to Help

There are many ways for Community Members and Businesses to help at FSSBA. Businesses and Individuals can make a tax deductible contribution, an in-kind donation, or volunteer their time and expertise. Donors may also participate in our Sponsor-A-Family Program. Thank you for your continued support of the work of our staff. We truly could not do it without you.

Find out more about our event and program sponsors and partners!

Contributions
While grants, contracts and foundations contribute a major portion of our funding, we still rely on the generous donations from our friends to fill in the gaps that our funding does not cover. There are several Donation Options available. Your tax deductible contribution can help us continue to make a difference for the many families we serve.

In-Kind Donations
In-kind donations of goods and services help us keep our costs down. These donations allow us to dedicate more dollars for the services provided to families. If you or anyone you know can donate one or more items on our Wish List, please contact Lynn Matsukawa at (510) 834-4006 x3053 or lmatsukawa@fssba-oak.org. Through the kindness of our friends, our needs may change and storage space may be limited—please note that it is always best to contact us before making a donation. Thanks for your generosity and understanding.

Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers help us fill in the gaps that funding may not provide for, as well as keep us connected to the community we serve. Find a volunteer opportunity that fits you:

Kinship Youth Program Tutor — The Kinship Youth Program seeks volunteer tutors to provide academic support to youth participating in our new “Homework Club” component. Participating youth range from 8-13 years old. The “Homework Club” meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm. We ask that prospective volunteers be consistently available one day a week, and be willing to make a semester-long commitment. For more information, please contact Kinship Youth Coordinator Juan Rodriguez at (510) 834-4006 x3046 or via email at jrodriguez@fssba-oak.org.

Board Membership Opportunities — Family Support Services of the Bay Area is seeking additional Board members who can contribute to our dynamic leadership team. The primary role of the Board of Directors is to oversee the management of the corporation, establish policy, ensure that corporate policies are implemented, and to select and evaluate the Executive Director. For a full list of Requirements and Responsibilities of Board Members please contact Lou Fox, Executive Director, via email at lfox@fssba-oak.org.

OreMi Mentoring Program — The OreMi Mentoring Program is a preventative and strength-based mentoring project for children, ages 4-14, living in Alameda County who have a parent in the state or federal prison system. This is a collaborative effort between Family Support Services of the Bay Area and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the East Bay. These agencies have joined together to share their expertise in serving families facing a variety of life challenges, including parental incarceration. The OreMi Mentoring Program seeks to break the intergenerational cycle of crime and incarceration by providing youth with one-to-one mentors, enriching group activities, and by offering the youth and his/her family linkages to community resources. Contact Alex Atkinson at aatkinson@fssba-oak.org for more information.