As holiday shoppers filled local Target stores searching for the perfect present, Target team members celebrated the season by giving back to the community.

A group delivered gifts, played games and decorated with kids at Abode in Fremont, a United Way partner organization. Each Bay Area Target store also donated $300 worth of wish list items to benefit families served by many of the nonprofits who partner with United Way through the Emergency Food and Shelter Program. Samaritan House in San Mateo, one such organization, reflected on the impact of Target’s gifts.

“In 2010 Samaritan House distributed holiday toys and gifts to 3,300 children and teens in need in our community through our Holiday Program,” said Kitty Lopez, Samaritan House Executive Director.  “We could not have hoped to accomplish that same goal this year without the help of Target and its partnership with United Way. Thank you for helping us put smiles on the faces of those less fortunate.”

Wish lists included winter clothing, toys, household items, strollers for new families, and gifts for teens living in shelters. Target also gave families a special holiday experience- the chance to see presents waiting under their own Christmas tree through the Share a Tree program. United Way helped coordinate this program, allowing more than 20 Bay Area nonprofits to provide a tree to a struggling family. Thirty-six sparkling trees adorned with ornaments made the holidays a little brighter for Bay Area residents.

Thank you to Target and each and every store team member for your commitment to the community!

The ‘punny’ folks over at Ben & Jerry’s have annoucned two new exclusive flavors that along with tasting good, encourage people to volunteer in their local communities. Launched in conjunction with an affiliated website, the company, which is famous for its charitable and community-oriented ways, is hoping people volunteer more by offering a free pint of ice cream.

After registering for a volunteer activity — and forwarding the volunteer program to five friends — that person and each of his or her friends will receive a coupon for a free pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, redeemable at Target stores, while supplies last.

The two new flavors are:

• Berry Voluntary; which is raspberry cheesecake flavored ice cream laced with white chocolate chunks and raspberry swirls;
• Brownie Chew Gooder; which is a vanilla caramel ice cream with fudge brownie pieces, finished with a caramel

Send a Valentine’s Day Card to your honey and  help United Way earn some money! Target, a long time United Way supporter has created  Super Love Sender which lets you send a quirky Valentine’s Day, football-inspired video card to friends and family all while raising funds for United Way.

For each card the online community sends, a vote is cast to decide how Target divides $1 million dollars between five national charities to fund educational programs. You can send up to 10 cards per computer, per day. The total number of votes determines the percentage of the funds United Way Worldwide receives.

Vote today by sending these customizable e-cards and enable United Way to raise important funds to support national education programs that help children enter school ready to learn, read proficiently by 4th grade and graduate on time. Super Love Sender will run through February 14 combining football and love just in time for Super Bowl XLIV and Valentine’s Day.