A successful Coats for Kids drive made for a warm holiday

- Snow people made of old light bulbs
It’s been a great holiday. Cabinet and Lighting Supply in Reno, Nevada came up with a creative way to reuse old light bulbs. Many people rented or recycled their Christmas trees. For the fifth year in a row, Recology Vacaville Solano and Recology Dixon employee owners worked with a local agency to help a family in need have a special Christmas. The Recology Yuba-Sutter donated new blankets and tarps to the Red Cross and Recology San Mateo County collected coats for kids, teenagers and adults in six Peninsula cities and various drop off locations.
The Coats for Kids collection program concluded on Dec. 20th and Recology San Mateo County would like to thank the cities and residents of Belmont, Burlingame, Foster City, Menlo Park, Redwood City and San Carlos for their participation in this worthwhile program.
Residents in the participating communities placed coats in a clear plastic bag marked “Coats for Kids” next to or on the top of their blue recycling cart on their regular collection day for pick up by the Recology collection drivers. Collection containers labeled “Coats for Kids” were also placed at various locations throughout several communities and Recology’s office where residents were also able to drop off coats.
In just days, Recology and all participating cities in San Mateo County collected over 750 coats! The coats were then sorted by Recology staff and donated to St. Anthony’s Church and Samaritan House for distribution to those families in need.
Recology San Mateo County General Manager, Mario Puccinelli was glad to do it. “Recology has been providing our Coats for Kids Program for many years in the communities we service. It has proven to be a great program helping those in dividuals and families in need,” he said.
The Coats for Kids program is going to be held annually by Recology San Mateo County with the hopes of having more communities participate next year.
![]() Recology San Mateo County (Gino Gasparini) unloading coats at St. Anthony’s. |
![]() Left to right, Sandra Tinoco and Yvette Madera (Recology), Father Medina (St. Anthony’s), Sarah Prescott (Recology) |
![]() Tammy Del Bene on Santa’s lap along with the rest of the Recology crew and the Menlo Park Firefighters Association which was donating and distributing “Toys” that same day at St. Anthony’s.Left to right, Sandra Tinoco and Yvette Madera (Recology), Father Medina (St. Anthony’s), Sarah Prescott (Recology) |
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About Recology San Mateo County:
Recology San Mateo County was chosen in 2008 by RethinkWaste to provide recycling, compost and garbage collection services for its twelve member agencies. Recology’s roots in recycling go back to the 1920s in San Francisco, when garbage men, known then as “scavengers,” actively sought out alternative uses for refuse.
Three ideas for giving to kids this holiday season
It’s the holiday season. Black Friday and Cyber Monday have come and gone. And if you have children you are thinking of during this season, here are a few thoughts from Recology.
Do you know the company Green Toys? They make toys out of recycled milk bottles. There’s just one example of the innovative work being done by vendors to use recovered materials in their products.
Kaboose.com has a list of craft ideas to make from recycled and reusable material. There’s nothing like making things with kids to enrich their early life experiences.
In San Mateo County, you can also participate in the annual Coats for Kids collection drive. Recology San Mateo County will start collecting coats as part of the residential recycling service and will also picking up coats at special drop-off locations.
| Belmont: | Library: 1110 Alameda de las Pulgas |
Monday – Wednesday 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM Thursday – Friday 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Belmont: | City Hall: 1 Twin Pines Lane |
Monday – Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Belmont: | Fire Station: 911 Granada Street |
Monday – Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Burlingame: | City Hall: 501 Primrose Road |
Monday – Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Burlingame: | Fire Station: 911 Granada Street |
Monday – Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Foster City: | Recreation Center: 650 Shell Boulevard |
Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Menlo Park: | Library: 800 Alma Street |
Monday & Wednesday 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM Tuesday 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM Thursday & Friday 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Sunday: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM |
| Menlo Park: | Arrillaga Family Recreation Center: 701 Laurel Street |
Monday – Sunday 5:30 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Menlo Park: | Onetta Harris Community Center: 100 Terminal Avenue |
Monday – Friday 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
| Redwood City: | City Hall: 1017 Middlefield Road |
Monday & Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| San Carlos: | City Hall: 600 Elm Street |
Monday & Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Recology San Mateo County: |
225 Shoreway Road | Monday & Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
Recology Vallejo has collected children’s coats each year for the past eight years. The donated coats may be of any size but should be in good enough shape that a child can play, sit and go to school with a sense of pride.
All coats will be cleaned and then given to local children who are in need.
We look forward to your participation during the holiday season.
Menlo Park Connoisseurs Marketplace
Connoisseurs’ Marketplace: One Green Festival

Are you planning to attend the Connoisseurs’ Marketplace this weekend in Menlo Park? It’s their silver anniversary, and it’s going to be their GREENEST event yet!
Menlo Park’s Chamber of Commerce has pledged to make this a Zero Waste event while showcasing top artists, music, chefs’ demos, fabulous food and drink, fun for kids, artisan specialty food purveyors, a collector car show, home and garden exhibits, health and wellness displays, an organic and green products showcase, and the new Cuda Lounge.
July 16-17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Santa Cruz Avenue.
Admission is FREE–don’t miss it!
Learn more about the event and how Recology is helping out with their greening efforts.
Things to do this 4th of July in San Mateo County

Recology San Mateo County has the info on all the great goings on this Independence Day!
We also want to remind you to reduce, reuse and recycle while you’re enjoying the festivities this July 4th.
Have a safe AND green holiday!
Foster City: Pancake breakfast, parade, festival and fireworks show over the lagoon at Leo J Ryan Park
Redwood City: Independence Festival and Parade
Menlo Park: Parade and Celebration at Burgess Park
San Mateo Highlands: July 3 – Fireworks at Highlands School, July 4 – Parade (themed “Around the World”) and Midway
Gino Rocks the Block!
Recology San Mateo County’s own Gino Gasparini charmed the crowd with all of Recology’s fantastic services at Menlo Park’s 5th Annual Block Party. (He is a charmer!)
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The party is sponsored by the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce.
Look for Gino and more of our amazing staff at upcoming events this summer!







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