Helping the Needy at Christmas
Hundreds of organizations will be distributing toys, clothes and food to the needy and underprivileged throughout Los Angeles County. Here is a list of some of those organizations:
The Salvation Army is sponsoring a program that allows a donor to give a personalized gift. Names of the needy can be selected at the Glendale Galleria and the Cerritos and Del Amo malls by picking an angel from an “Angel Tree” with the name of a recipient and his or her age, clothing size and other information. For more information, call (213) 627-5571.
St. Vibiana’s Cathedral in downtown Los Angeles is sponsoring “Adopt-a-Family” for the holidays for Skid Row families. Baskets of clothing, toys and two weeks’ worth of food will be delivered to families the Saturday before Christmas. For more information, call (213) 624-3641.
Covenant House California, a shelter that serves at least 28,000 young runaways a year, is collecting new underwear for boys and girls, as well as toothbrushes, shampoo, blankets, warm jackets and toys. Call (213) 461-3131.
Any Kind Check Cashing Centers Inc. and Golf N’ Stuff are collecting non-perishable food items, unwrapped toys and children’s clothing for three Los Angeles County Charities: St. Francis Home, House of Ruth Women’s and Children’s Shelter and the Faithful Central Missionary Baptist Church. Call (310) 427-9045 or (213) 745-8943.
Share the Holidays is a two-day communitywide program in Santa Monica to collect unwrapped gifts, toys, books, food and clothing for 2,500 needy families in the area. Also, clean used clothing, blankets and towels will be accepted and distributed to shelters. Donations may be brought to the RAND South Parking Lot, 1700 Main St., between Pico Boulevard and Colorado Avenue on Dec. 13 from noon to 3 p.m and Dec. 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
More than 500 Harley Davidson bikers will caravan with toys and stuffed animals from Glendale to the Fred Jordan Mission in downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 13. They will donate gifts for Skid Row’s Dec. 19 Christmas celebration for 25,000 needy children and their families. To donate toys for the homeless, call the Fred Jordan Mission, (213) 689-8217.
Goodwill Industries of Southern California needs used but usable household goods for its job training programs. People with disabilities and other barriers to employment recycle the items, preparing them for resale in Goodwill thrift shops. Proceeds fund rehabilitation and placement services for employees and pay their wages. To schedule a home pickup of clothing, toys or small appliances or for the nearest donation station, call (213) 222-5131.
The Crenshaw branches of Great Western Bank and American Savings Bank are collecting toys for the Sickle Cell Disease Research Foundation. Toys can be dropped off at Great Western Bank, 4401 Crenshaw Blvd.; American Savings Bank, 3775 Santa Rosalia Drive and the Sickle Cell Disease Research Foundation, 4401 Crenshaw Blvd., Suite 208. For more information, call (213) 299-3600.
The Brothers of Charity are collecting new socks and T-shirts in adult sizes and other types of clothing for their Nuestro Hogar drop-in center for homeless males under age 21. The center is at 1519 Cambria St., Los Angeles, west of the Harbor Freeway and one block south of 7th and Union streets. Call (213) 413-8120.
The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank supplies more than 600 agencies that feed more than 250,000 people a week. Any one wishing to donate food items will be referred to a local agency by calling (213) 234-3030.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will be collecting toys (except guns or knives) for the Children’s Hospital, Para Los Ninos, Union Rescue Mission and many other organizations. Donations can be dropped off at any local sheriff’s station before Dec. 11.
California Highway Patrol officers and civilians will hold their annual CHP’s for Kids Toy Drive Dec. 12 through Dec. 20 at the Montebello Town Center, Puente Hills Mall in the City of Industry and Century City Plaza. For more information call the public affairs unit (818) 240-8200
The Union Station Foundation is sponsoring “Dinner in the Park” on Christmas Day for the homeless in the Pasadena area. Groups or individuals are asked to bring prepared food in disposable containers to Central Park at the corner of Fair Oaks Avenue and Del Mar Boulevard by 11 a.m. Volunteers are needed to play games with the children, sing Christmas carols, serve food and clean up. For more information, call (818) 449-4596.
Toys for Tots sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves collected more than 8 million toys last year for needy children, and organizers hope to exceed that goal this year. Donations of unwrapped toys can be dropped off at Chief Auto Parts stores, Norwest Financial branch offices or at Pierce Bros. Smith and Salsbury Mortuary, 10865 Washington Blvd., Culver City.
The Hollywood Division of the Los Angeles Police Department and the Hollywood Sentinels are sponsoring their fourth annual Holiday Party on Dec. 19 at DeLongpre Park for 1,500 underprivileged children and their parents. Donations of food and toys are needed. Call Officer Linda Garcardenas (213) 485-4310.
Shelter Partnership is sponsoring an “Our Wish List” project to fill homeless agencies’ and shelters’ wishes for items such as refrigerators, freezers and computers. People who want to volunteer their services, fill a wish or donate clothing, food and other items can call (213) SHELTER.