Helping Those in Need : A HOLIDAY GUIDE TO GIVING AND VOLUNTEERING

Many organizations are distributing toys, clothes and food to the needy and underprivileged in Los Angeles County. If you want to volunteer or contribute, or if you need assistance yourself, here’s who to call:

Children

* Alkebu-lan Cultural Center, 317 E. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena 91104. this after-school tutoring center for youths at risk of dropping out of school and into gangs offers a boy’s choir, drama and dance classes. It needs stackable chairs for choir and performance arts programs, personal computers and English and math tutorial software. (818) 577-5556.

* Blind Children’s Center, 4120 Marathon St., Los Angeles 90029, works with infants and toddlers and their families in a preschool setting, and publishes a variety of booklets that are distributed worldwide. The center needs donations of diapers, musical and talking books, balls with bells inside, push toys, toy shopping carts used for pre-cane training and monetary donations. (213) 664-2153.

* The California Highway Patrol is having its annual toy drive through Sunday at the Montebello Town Center, West Covina Fashion Plaza, Topanga Plaza and Fox Hills Mall. Call the public affairs unit at (818) 240-8200.

* Caring for Babies With AIDS needs sing-along story tapes, musical instruments, educational books and videos, Hooked on Phonics (English and Spanish), outdoor swing and play sets, pillows, infant furniture, clothing (newborn to 6x), diapers, baby food and formula, toothbrushes and toothpaste. Gift certificates for Toys-R-Us, Lucky supermarkets and children’s shoe stores are welcomed. Send donations to: P.O. Box 351535, Los Angeles 90035, or call (213) 931-9828.

* Continental Coin & Jewelry Corp. is collecting toys for children who have been helped by the L.A. Housing Corp.’s Trudy and Norman Louis Valley Shelter in North Hollywood. The shelter helps provide new starts for homeless families. An unwrapped toy or gift for children ages 1-17 can be dropped off at 5627 Sepulveda Blvd., Van Nuys, or call Gordon O’Rourke at (818) 781-4232.

* Five Acres, 760 W. Mountain View St., Altadena, 91001, a center for abused, abandoned and neglected children, needs donations of ethnic Barbie dolls and clothes, jump ropes, skates, clocks, radios, basketballs, stuffed animals, pogo sticks, Legos, baseballs, mitts and caps, backpacks, Ninja Turtle items, puzzles, board games, books and sweat shirts (all sizes). (213) 681-4827, Ext. 244.

* Florence Crittenton Center, 234 E. Ave. 33, Los Angeles 90031, offers residential care to children and teen-agers. For infants and toddlers, it needs cloth books, clothing and furniture; for teen-agers, amusement park passes, desk lamps, irons, jeans, pocket cameras, Nintendo games and cartridges, books and games, sweat pants and shirts, underwear, Walkmans, white T-shirts, winter jackets, roller skates/in-line skates and gift certificates. Major items sought are bicycles, bookcases, a VCR, a stove and a microwave oven. (213) 225-4211.

* Great Beginnings for Black Babies, 323 N. Prairie Ave., Suite 408, Inglewood 90301, can use donations of items for infants--undershirts, gowns, pajamas, receiving blankets, crib blankets, towels and washcloths, baby lotion, oil and powder. (310) 419-8272.

* The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is collecting toys (excluding toy guns and knives) for many organizations, including Childrens Hospital, Para Los Ninos and the Union Rescue Mission. Donations can be dropped off at any sheriff’s station before Christmas.

* Make-A-Wish Foundation, 12121 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 310, Los Angeles 90025, dedicated to granting the wishes of children with terminal or life-threatening diseases, is offering cards letting the recipient know that a donation has been made in his or her name to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Other holiday cards are also available, featuring the artwork of children. Cards can be purchased for a donation of from $7 to $25. (310) 207-3023.

* Red Cloud American Indian Society sends Christmas gifts to children and teen-agers in North and South Dakota, Utah and Arizona. Needed are heavy jackets, sweaters, jeans, shoes, grooming items, purses, wallets, makeup, hair-care items, watches, toys and games, art supplies, school supplies and sports equipment. It also needs a truck to deliver donated gifts. (714) 833-3865.

* Toys for Tots, sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, collected more than 8 million toys last year for needy children, and organizers hope to exceed that number this year. Donations of unwrapped toys can be dropped off at Sav-On Drug Stores and Shell Oil Co. stations throughout Los Angeles.

* Variety Children’s Charities, providing assistance to underprivileged, handicapped and abused children, will be distributing toys to more than 500 children at its annual Christmas party Wednesday. Unwrapped toys can be dropped off in the lobbies of three United Artists Theaters: 4335 Glencoe Ave., Marina Del Rey; 64 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, and 6030 Canoga Ave., Woodland Hills. (213) 655-1547.

Homeless

* Brothers of Charity, 1345 Alvarado Terrace, Los Angeles 90006, is collecting new socks, T-shirts and underwear in adult sizes, blankets, towels, toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo, soap and clothing for its Nuestro Hogar drop-in center for homeless males under 21. (213) 413-8120.

* Fred Jordan Mission, 445 Towne Ave., Los Angeles 90013, is having its annual Christmas party on Sunday for more than 25,000 needy children and their families. To help serve, or donate toys for the homeless, call (818) 915-1981.

* Inter-City Volunteers of Pomona Valley is collecting donations of food, clothing, toys and personal hygiene items. Volunteers are needed to assemble and deliver baskets to needy families. (909) 865-8853.

* People in Progress is co-sponsoring the third annual Shatto Park Christmas Party from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday for low-income and homeless residents of the Rampart neighborhood around 3rd Street and Vermont Avenue. All children accompanied by an adult family member will receive a Christmas present, meal and used clothing. Donations of food, new unwrapped toys, used clothing and money are needed. (213) 384-6689 or (310) 788-9237.

* St. Joseph Center, a social service agency serving low-income and homeless men, women and children, is collecting non-perishable food, toys, diapers, warm clothing and gifts for teen-agers. To donate or volunteer for the holiday party on Sunday, call (310) 399-2352.

Health

* Lions Clubs International and Lens Crafters accepts donations of used eyeglasses. Under the Gift of Sight program, glasses are cleaned, repaired, classified by prescription and distributed to needy people in developing countries. Call (800) 541-LENS for store locations.

* Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center seeks help from the community to bring holiday cheer to patients in its hospitals. New layettes, robes, toiletries, slippers, afghans, sweaters, toys and entertainers are needed. (213) 226-3698.

* Sickle Cell Disease Research Foundation, 4401 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles 90043, is collecting non-perishable food items, clothing for all ages and sizes and a wrapped toy with a tag identifying it as being for a boy or girl and what age. Donations can be delivered to the agency at 4401 S. Crenshaw Blvd., Suite 208 in the Great Western Bank building at Vernon Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. (213) 299-3600.

Food

* Volunteers are needed to serve Christmas dinners at many agencies. Among them: Downtown Women’s Center, 325 S. Los Angeles St., (213) 613-0761; Homeless Care Project, 3324 Sunset Blvd., (213) 661-1963, and Good Shepherd For Homeless Women, 267 N. Belmont Ave. (213) 250-5241. For other opportunities to serve meals, contact Shelter Partnership Inc. (213) 688-2188.

* L.A. Works is recruiting people to serve holiday meals at the Los Angeles Mission, Meals on Wheels (Westside), Salvation Army in Santa Monica, Sunset Hall and the Fred Jordan Mission. Volunteers are also needed to wrap and deliver gifts to impoverished families. (213) 936-1340.

* The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, Crisis Relief Division, will be distributing new toys and holiday food items for needy families to community centers and churches throughout Los Angeles. (213) 736-1356.

* The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank supplies more than 600 agencies that feed more than 250,000 people a week. Anyone wishing to donate food items will be referred to a local agency by calling (213) 234-3030.

* MEND (Meet Each Need With Dignity), 13460 Van Nuys Blvd., Pacoima 91331, a social service agency, is providing Christmas baskets of food, toys and blankets for 1,200 needy families. Contributions of non-perishable food items, turkeys or hams and new toys can be dropped off before Wednesday at the packing center at 1046 Griswold Ave., San Fernando. To adopt a family or volunteer to wrap, pack or make deliveries, call (818) 896-0246 or (818) 365-2665.

* North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry collects and provides food to needy families. Drop off donations of non-perishable food at the First Presbyterian Church, 5000 Colfax Ave., North Hollywood 91601, or call (818) 980-1657.

* Project Angel Food needs volunteers to prepare and deliver Christmas meals for home-bound people with AIDS. Cooking takes place between 9 a.m. and noon, with delivery before 12:30 p.m. Participants use their own cars and must have liability insurance. (213) 656-1986.

* The Salvation Army is sponsoring a program that allows a donor to give a personalized gift. Names of the needy can be selected on the lower level at Citicorp Plaza at Figueroa Street at 7th and 8th streets by picking an angel from an “Angel Tree” with the name of a recipient and his or her age, clothing size and other information. Volunteers are also needed to help with delivery of toys and food baskets and to serve dinners at shelters. (213) 627-5571.

* St. Vibiana’s Cathedral, 114 E. 2nd St., Los Angeles 90012, is sponsoring an “Adopt-a-Family” program for Skid Row families. Volunteers are needed to help assemble and deliver baskets of clothing, toys and two weeks worth of food. Pajamas, slippers, robes, pillows and blankets are also needed. (213) 624-3641.

Seniors

* Organization for the Needs of the Elderly, 18255 Victory Blvd., Reseda 91335, needs people to visit senior citizens, deliver meals and coordinate trips over the holidays and throughout the year. (818) 705-2345.

* St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, 2131 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles 90057, will use a $15 donation to provide hot meals for three senior citizens. (213) 484-7775.

* Jewish Elder-Care Corps, 8838 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles 90035, serves the elderly of all faiths in nursing homes or residential facilities and needs volunteers to give an hour of time each week, especially during the holidays. (310) 859-9336.

Pets

* Mercy Crusade, an animal welfare group, and the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control are urging people who want to adopt pets for Christmas to do so Dec. 20, 21 and 22, when a special $10 adoption program will be offered and spay and neuter fees will be waived. Also included are the animal’s shots and a free video on pet care and training. Call (310) 940-8888 or (805) 940-4190 or visit the following shelters:

* 11258 S. Garfield Ave., Downey

* 216 W. Victoria St., Carson

* 4275 N. Elton Ave., Baldwin Park

* 5210 W. Ave. I, Lancaster

* 31044 N. Charlie Canyon Road, Castaic

* 29525 W. Agoura Road, Agoura Hills

* Many animal hospitals have several dogs available for adoption, free of charge. Independent organizations, including the Lang Foundation at (310) 472-7727 and the Neighborhood Animal Group at (213) 661-6754, also match prospective owners with homeless pets and their adoptive agencies.

Shelters

* Covenant House California, 5503 Fountain Ave., Hollywood 90027, a shelter that serves at least 28,000 young runaways a year, is collecting underwear for boys and girls as well as toothbrushes, shampoo, blankets, warm jackets and toys. (213) 461-3131.

* LAMP, 527 S. Crocker St., Los Angeles 90013, which houses, feeds and employs the mentally ill homeless, has launched a market coupon program redeemable for food, personal care items, showers or use of coin laundries at its Skid Row facility. Donations of bar soap, towels and single sheets are also needed. (213) 488-0670.

* 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, fulfill a wish or donate clothing, food and other items can call (213) SHELTER.

* The Weingart Center, 566 S. San Pedro St., Los Angeles 90013, which operates a homeless shelter and services complex on Skid Row, offers meal coupons good for a hot breakfast, lunch or dinner at the center’s cafe. (213) 627-9000.

* Cold Weather Shelters--The following shelters are open every night through Feb. 28. For more information about the shelters and transportation pick-up points, call (800) 548-6047.

* West Los Angeles Armory, 1300 Federal Ave.

* Culver City Armory, 10808 Culver Blvd.

* Lutheran Social Services, 1237 N. Vine St., Hollywood

* New Image Emergency Shelter, 1800 S. Grand Ave., Downtown L.A.

* His Sheltering Arms, 11101 S. Main St., Los Angeles

* Los Angeles Community Services, 6700 11th Ave., Los Angeles

* FAME, 2226 S. Western Ave. and 1880 W. 25th St., Los Angeles

* CCVA, 8652 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles

* APA, 1218 S. Norton Ave., 8311 S. Western Ave. and 8700 S. Broadway, Los Angeles

* Glendale Presbyterian Church, 125 S. Louise St., Glendale

* Covenant Church gymnasium, 539 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena

* Long Beach National Guard Armory, 1400 Cherry Ave.

* Van Nuys National Guard Armory, 17330 Victory Blvd.

* Catholic Charities, 44611 Yucca Ave., Lancaster

* Salvation Army, 5600 Rickenbacker Road, Bell

* Pomona National Guard Armory, 600 S. Park Ave.

More Volunteers Needed

* The TimesLink online service has details on year-round volunteer opportunities throughout the community. Sign on and select Volunteering under Things To Do in the California Living section.

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