Businesses Sponsor ‘Santa Anonymous’

Twenty-two San Fernando Valley families who can’t afford much of a holiday will have toys to open and a dinner to feast on this season, if some anonymous Santas pitch in.

A donations drive dubbed “Santa Anonymous,” which is sponsored by local businesses, is asking San Fernando Valley residents to bring food, clothing, toys and blankets to seven drop-off locations across the Valley.

The packages will go to families identified by local schools as needing a bit of extra help over the holidays. Some are single parents, some underemployed, some are families with disabled children.

“We wanted to be able to touch families that wouldn’t be able to provide any holiday for their families at all,” said Pam Berg, owner of Minuteman Press of North Hollywood, co-sponsor of the event.

The drive, in its second year, started Monday. The drop-off box at the Mid-San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce, another co-sponsor, was still empty Thursday, workers said.

Drop-off locations in Van Nuys are the Mid-San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce at 14540 Victory Blvd.; First Interstate Bank, at the corner of Van Nuys Boulevard and Vanowen Street; Chandler Lumber, 7817 Van Nuys Blvd.; and Sam’s U-Drive at 14540 Oxnard St..

Other locations are Minuteman Press, 13165 Sherman Way, North Hollywood; First Interstate Bank, 8309 Van Nuys Blvd., Panorama City; and Kelly Paper Co., 12641 Saticoy St., North Hollywood.