As the holidays draw near, we’re reminded of the power of generosity—especially when it is directed toward families facing hardship here in Milpitas.
The Milpitas Rotary Foundation, in partnership with The Milpitas Beat, proudly presents its 2nd Annual Milpitas Wishes program. By spotlighting local residents who have endured significant challenges, we invite readers like you to help deliver relief, hope, and meaningful support. Your contribution doesn’t just meet a need—it changes someone’s holiday, and often their life.
To donate, go here.
Be sure to set the OPTIONAL donation to Zeffy to “other” if you do not wish to add to the donation.
Read the stories below to learn about the individuals and families in our community who would benefit from your generous donation.
STORY 1
Help a Giving Heart
Clara is a remarkable young woman whose kindness shines quietly but powerfully. Though soft-spoken and humble, she gives her time to supporting the unhoused and anyone else who needs a helping hand. At the same time, she is pursuing her dreams as a freshman at San José State University, studying Biological Sciences and working hard to build a brighter future.
What many don’t see is that behind her generous spirit is someone who also carries her own burdens—though she would never draw attention to them. Even when her own family struggles, Clara still finds a way to give to others.
Her family’s story began when her dad fled Vietnam by boat in the 1980s. The family was reunited in 2000, when her parents immigrated to Milpitas in search of opportunity, hope, and a better life. Through determination and long hours of work, they built a home in a new country. But two years ago, tragedy struck when Clara’s father passed away, which left her mom as the sole provider. The loss was devastating, both emotionally and financially. With the help of programs like Section 8 housing, Medi-Cal, and SNAP—support relied on by many families in Milpitas—along with the strength of loved ones, they’ve managed to stay afloat. But with the new Federal policies that cut many of those programs, she faces uncertainty about whether they will be directly affected.
Clara’s mother, like so many parents who put their children first without hesitation, always insists that her daughter focus on her studies without having to work. But Clara sees the sacrifices behind those words.
This winter, she dreams of surprising her mom with a warm, beautiful coat—something that would bring comfort and remind her that she, too, is cared for.
Let’s help Clara bring a moment of joy to the woman who has given her, and so many others, so much.
STORY 2
Ease the Medical Expenses of an Autistic Child
Carlotta kept getting calls from her son’s school. Day in and day out, he was experiencing pain. It got so bad that he often couldn’t make it through the school day. She’d give the 13-year-old boy ibuprofen, but to no avail…
She wasn’t a stranger to health issues among her kids. A single mother of five – two of whom are in college, three of whom are between ages 11 and 14 – Carlotta had recently dealt with a major challenge; one of her older sons had had a spinal surgery at Stanford, to help correct his posture. It was a major process with a prolonged recovery, and it left her in debt, caring for her child, and unable to work.
In the case of her 13-year-old, it was a dental issue; the boy needed a root canal. She looked into insurance coverage. She asked about payment plans. But the dentist needed a single lump sum payment of $1,890 to carry out the procedure, which set Carlotta back despite her having recently acquired a new chef job.
Soon her boy was out of pain, back to drawing the cartoons he excels at coming up with, but now physical pain had been replaced by financial pain. Despite her first paychecks coming in, Carlotta’s still pushing back against major debt.
Any cash donations she receives will go toward the root canal bill.
Carlotta and her five kids all live under one roof, with the eldest two going back and forth to and from college (one is studying teaching; the other, electrical engineering) and the younger three attending Milpitas public schools. Two of her children, including the one who experienced the dental pain, are autistic. Life hasn’t been easy, but Carlotta is optimistic…
“I’m gonna make it,” she told The Beat, wiping away her tears. She just could use a little bit of help.
STORY 3
A Gift of Learning for Jesus
Jesus is a whirlwind of pure, infectious joy. A fifth-grader with a smile as bright as the California sun, he is defined by his boundless curiosity and the thoughtful questions he’s always posing. Though born premature and blind, Jesus sees the world not with his eyes, but through an intensely vibrant spirit.
He is the middle of three boys, the son of dedicated immigrant parents who moved their family to Milpitas seven years ago in search of a better life. Their journey’s been one of quiet determination. Jesus’s mother works tirelessly as a cashier, and his father puts in long, demanding hours in construction. They barely get by, and the challenge of sharing their single-family vehicle is a daily struggle. Yet despite the financial strain, their family bond is unbreakable—a deep-rooted strength that is Jesus’s true foundation.
Jesus attends the California School for the Blind in Fremont, and there, his natural brilliance shines. He is remarkably independent, mastering his environment by memorizing every detail, every path, and every sound, building an active mental map of his world.
The young boy’s greatest joy is learning. He dreams of a future where he can solve complex problems, and his sharp mind is always hungry for new information. While his family struggles to afford extra items, a few simple gifts could unlock new worlds for Jesus:
- A couple of new braille books would be the perfect fuel for his unending stream of questions.
- A braille board game would allow him to play and compete equally with his two brothers while also strengthening their bond.
And for Jesus’s parents, a simple bus card would be life-changing—a small measure of freedom to get to their jobs or pick up their children from school without the stress of coordinating their single, shared vehicle.
In the end, Jesus’s story is not about what he lacks, but about the profound light he carries. He is a testament to the power of a loving family, an ongoing quest for knowledge, and the radiant hope that defines the search for a better life. Jesus is not just learning how to navigate the world; he is showing everyone around him how to see it clearly, and with gratitude.
STORY 4
Help a Family to Heal in the Wake of Trauma
Earlier this year, Lucia and her family experienced extreme danger and trauma at their home in the Alum Rock neighborhood of San Jose…
Back in April, a group of armed men broke in one night. Her husband was asleep on the couch and didn’t notice the commotion till it was too late. When he tried to stand up as they were escaping, he was shot and killed.
Lucia and her two children, ages 6 and 14, continued to live in the home after his death. But continuous gang violence and car break-ins drove them out of the neighborhood and into a new home in Milpitas.
After the tragic loss of her husband, Lucia is determined to provide a safe environment for her children, who are still healing after having suffered such a major loss. Her 14-year-old started this school year as a freshman at Milpitas High School, while her 6-year-old entered Kindergarten at Randall Elementary School.
The family is struggling financially and hoping to receive donations to support them through this challenging time. Their main needs are:
- Gas for transportation to school
- A new mattress
- Food and basic necessities support
Though they’ve lost someone who can never be replaced, the family would still be grateful for some support this holiday season.
STORY 5
Paving a Brighter Path toward a Child’s Future
Sofia gave birth to her baby girl on October 29.
Although welcoming the newborn into the world has been a joyous experience, Sofia has been struggling to provide her child with all the things that she needs.
Raised alone by her grandmother, Sofia is a teen mom, and is in her junior year at Milpitas High School. Currently, she is on independent studies for the next few months, so that she can take time to recover after the pregnancy and birth, and also have time with her baby.
She is hoping that the community can support her with donations during the holiday season.
“It would be so helpful for me and my baby,” Sofia told The Beat. “I have so many things I need for her, like a stroller. It gets hard taking her around and having to hold her, especially when I need to walk a distance.”
Sofia is also hoping to buy baby clothes, diapers, and formula for her new baby girl.
If you’d like to make a donation to support these families, you can go here.
If you have questions, please send an email to the Milpitas Rotary.
Donations are accepted until Saturday, December 20.
