This GREAT list was published on Joe Sac a ways back. It was written and compiled by Tracy of http://blog-sacramento.blogspot.com. Tracy worked so hard on this, and I have been meaning to memorialize it as its own page. So here it is. PLEASE email me and I’ll get it posted. Joejoesacramento at gmail dot com. Thanks!

Instead of entertaining new taxes, entertain this idea: Much of the crime in Sacramento is being committed by juvenile delinquents who are not being nurtured and guided through the maturation process. What’s missing from the lives of most of these young people is simply an adult who will hold them accountable.

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Fargo’s new tax, and the purported fifty new police officers it will bring to Sacramento, aren’t going to magically produce those adults, any more than us spending our spare time surfing the sports scores, shopping online, and watching the Dow crash are going to make our communities more safer.

You care about our community, right? Get off your duff people! I can hear you now, “I don’t have time.” If you don’t have spare time, maybe you’re doing better than a lot folks right now and you have some spare change? Better than handing it over to a burglar right? These ten organizations will gladly put you and/or your spare change to work immediately, no questions asked:

New! Trust Fund for Tortured Tracy Youth
From Krystal @ Sacramento Child Advocates. “If you go to our website at www.sacchildadv.org, there is a “donate now” button in the upper right corner.  Click that, then fill in the donation page.  About halfway down the page there is an option to designate your donation to “Tracy Youth Fund.”  Make sure you choose that option, and the money will go directly to him. ”

Boys and Girls Club of Sacramento- Serving 6500 youth from ages 6 to 19 from all over Sacramento. They know what they’re doing and they do it well. You can volunteer with kids, teach classes, help with fundraising and auction materials and more.

Stanford Settlement- Right in our own backyard! Stanford Settlement is dangerously close to missing their budget required to stay open. Save a few lattes and help out the kids. They work hard to promote positive relationships for teens, give them a safe place to “hang out” and also provide emergency assistance, senior support and more.

Sacramento Children’s Home- Looking to meet a special child one on one and change the world one life at a time? This is it! Kids at the children’s home are lacking serious adult role models who can show them a way out of the horrid things they’ve seen. If that’s too personal, look at the wish list and buy something or volunteer for a special event.

Project Birthday- A one-time or repeat feel good warm fuzzy here! Throw a birthday party for a homeless child or a whole group! For $400 you can sponsor an entire party for 30 kids or you can donate supplies left from your kid’s last party.

Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services- Not just a food bank, SFBS provides famiy support, mother-baby classes, parenting classes, computer classes, clothing and supplies and much more. With over 800 volunteers, you know they’ll put you to work and value your committment. Can’t do it? Organize a Run to Feed the Hungry team from your neighborhood.

Natomas HOSTS program- Work with an individual student and make school matter! If you can lift them up in the classroom, they can succeed in life.

Hands On Sacramento- So it’s Friday and you have a few hours free tomorrow with no plans. What should you do? Visit this website and see who needs you right now for a few hours! Projects are short or long term and easily searchable by neighborhood, time and skills. If they don’t have something that fits your schedule, try Volunteer Match.

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)- What happens when kids are caught in the middle? CASA steps in to find out what’s best for the child. You can be the first adult a child has ever experienced a positive relationship with. CASA provides the training, the materials and the support and you provide the loving heart to help.

Big Brothers Big Sisters- If you have a driver’s license, insured transportation and a big heart, you can be a big brother or big sister! Be the adult to hold an at-risk child accountable and you’ll see the rewards multiply.

Your child’s school- If none of these seem to make you excited, walk into your child’s school next week and talk to the secretary. Tell her that you have some time and ask what you can do to help. I guarantee she’ll put you to work or find someone who will.

No more excuses. No more whining. Get to work!

Ed note: I am in contact with the City of Sacramento’sYouth Development Director, Lyn Corbett. Lyn is committed to Natomas outreach. He is looking for people in NAtomas to assist with youth initiatives. Holler at him here: lcorbett@cityofsacramento.org. And Thank you TRACY!