November 5, 2025
Holiday Gifts for Compass Clara House Children

 

Compass Clara House, located just down Page Street from City Center, is a family shelter with which San Francisco Zen Center has been involved for many years. It has been our tradition for City Center to host a holiday party for the families where each child is given a gift bag that includes, among other things, a gift card.

We are inviting 20 participants (individuals or groups), to purchase a $50 gift card for one of the families. The request, per discussion with the Clara House director, is that the card is from Visa, as this will give the parent a range of choices. Because the gift cards will be used to purchase holiday gifts for the children, we would like to have them ready to be delivered by December 8 at the latest.

If you would like to make a donation of a gift card, please contact Outreach Coordinator Ellen Simpson at outreach@sfzc.org. Please DO NOT send a card until you have contacted us to confirm that there is still a need and that the total has not yet been reached.

Thank you for helping Outreach and City Center to make the holidays at Clara House merry and bright!

 

Features, For Mary Watson

Remembering Mary Watson

I want to invite us to be with Mary's spirit, because she really embodied compassion. When Blanche gave her the precepts, she gave her the name, Eyes of Compassion, Nurturing Teacher, and that's what Mary was.