Where to send donations

Here are some choices of places to give if you do not want to give to panhandlers

Alliance for Community Care (formerly Miramonte Mental Health Services) provides mental health and rehabilitation services. Please mail checks or household items to 206 California Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94306. Call Iris Korol at 617-1757.

American Red Cross provides emergency housing. Checks may be mailed to: 400 Mitchell Lane, Palo Alto, CA 94301. Call 322-2143.

Another Way is an initiative that discourages aggressive panhandling in Palo Alto by encouraging people to drop spare change in collection cans in stores throughout the city. All proceeds from Another Way are distributed to the Urban Ministry of Palo Alto and Alliance for Community Care (formerly Mirmamonte Mental Health Services). Checks may be mailed to: City of Palo Alto, Office of Human Services, 4000 Middlefield Road, Room T-2, Palo Alto, CA 94303. Call 329-2375.

Ecumenical Hunger Program serves families in need. Checks may be mailed to 1934 University Ave., East Palo Alto, CA 94303. Call 323-7781. Donations of clothes, nonperishable food, any household items and furniture also welcome.

The Salvation Army-Palo Alto Chapter provides emergency services for those in need. Donations may be mailed to P.O. Box 60685, Palo Alto, CA 94306. Call 324-3931.

Urban Ministry of Palo Alto provides meals, a food closet, clothes closet, a 15-bed rotating shelter program (Hotel de Zink), a drop-in center with coffee, bus passes, a message center, job listings and casework. Checks may be mailed to the Urban Ministry at P.O. Box 213, Palo Alto, CA 94302. Donations of food, clothes and toiletries also are welcome. Volunteers always needed. For more information, call Melissa Rigg at 853-8697.