This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Benevolent Helps You Give Where You Live

This holiday season why not give back to those in our own backyard? Unfortunately, poverty isn’t just a problem that happens elsewhere. All around us our neighbors are struggling to reach independence and self-sufficiency, and often it’s just one small obstacle in their way.

Benevolent.net is a new, national crowd-funding donation site where these striving individuals can tell their stories, share their goals, and receive help. Each need has been verified and posted by one of Benevolent’s local nonprofit partners, who help fulfill the needs once funded.

And, Benevolent makes it easy to find those in our own area who are in need of help. Some examples of local needs include:

Find out what's happening in Cupertinowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Diego is a single father whose family lost nearly all their belongings in a flood. Everything he earns goes to rent and feeding his children. Benevolent is helping him raise funds to replace ruined clothing and furniture.

Bertha is unable to work right now due to a herniated disk. She and her children are all sharing one old mattress. All she wants is to be able to tuck her kids in to sleep in their own bed at night.

Find out what's happening in Cupertinowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Smithers is a homeless veteran trying to make his medical appointments and look for a job. All he’s looking for to achieve independence is a couple of months of transit passes.

You will find more local needs at “Benevolent by the Bay,” or just go to Benevolent.net and browse by need category to find somebody who could use your help this season.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?