Assistance Groups Seeking Donations for Holiday Gifts

Sarah Center in Long Beach, which provides counseling for neglected and sexually or physically abused children and parenting programs for pregnant teens has many needs: parent-child sets of puppets; glitter glue; watercolors; 3-D puzzles; markers; art paper; gift certificates for grocery stores, toys, movies and music; paintbrushes; board games; dolls and doll clothes; Play-Doh; safety scissors; toys; bookshelves; books; receiving blankets; newborns’ clothes and diapers; infant carriers and car seats; baby toys; equipment for parenting classes; and financial donations. Information: Sharon Kay, (562) 422-8472.

* Operation School Bell, a Los Angeles group that provides clothing and grooming products to children in extreme need, offers this list of wishes: running shoes, undergarments, sweatpants and sweatshirts, toys, books and boys’ T-shirts and jeans. Information: Suzanne Kahane, (818) 907-8939.

* New clothing for children 6 months to 10 years old, gift certificates, toys, games, art and school supplies, children’s videotapes, musical instruments, CDs, and cassette tapes are what Caring for Babies With AIDS needs most this holiday season. Information: (323) 931-9828.

* I Have a Dream Foundation-Los Angeles, which offers college scholarships and programs to encourage disadvantaged youths to stay in school and plan for the future, is asking for: 33 holiday gifts for 15-year-old boys, 42 gifts for 15-year-old girls, 24 gifts for 11-year-old boys and 27 gifts for 11-year-old girls. Information: Kathleen Rhodes, (323) 943-4441.

* Shelter Partnership is asking for donations such as microwaves, refrigerators, computers and children’s toys and clothing, which will in turn be donated to shelters and needy people. Information: Anita Morales, (213) 688-2188, Ext. 23.

* Donations of clothing, toys, beddings, linens, food and personal hygiene articles would be welcomed by St. Vibiana Cathedral for its Adopt-a-Family program. Volunteers will deliver these items to about 200 families Dec. 19. Information: Bill Baeder, (213) 624-3641.

* Dream Street Foundation, which provides camping programs for children suffering from cancer, AIDS and other life-threatening diseases, wishes for: a pottery wheel, kiln, glue, paintbrushes, paints, arts and crafts supplies, beads, pickup truck, bedding, new white T-shirts and a video camera. Information: (310) 274-7227.

* For its Christmas party for 500 children, ages newborn to 17, Optimist Foster Family Agency in Los Angeles asks for unwrapped toys or cash contributions to buy gifts. Information: (323) 341-5561.

* Pet Orphans Fund in Santa Monica is asking on behalf of the animals for: a washer and dryer, camcorder, blankets, towels, balls, leashes, pet beds, plastic shower curtain rings, plastic golf balls with holes, animal toys, crates and, most of all, good homes for pets. Information: (818) 901-0190.

* Sixty toys for children 18 to 36 months old and 140 toys for children 3 to 5 years old are needed by the Drew Child Development Corp., which provides subsidized day care for low-income families in South Los Angeles and runs teen pregnancy prevention programs and other family service programs. Canned and boxed food and gifts for teenagers are also needed. Information Diann Fauntleroy, (213) 249-0621.

* Tierra Del Sol Foundation, which provides training and employment programs for developmentally disabled adults, is wishing for adult clothing and rain gear, recreational equipment including CD players and VCRs, gardening equipment and office and classroom furnishings. Information: Vicki Nadsady, (818) 352-1419.

* Prototypes, which provides health, mental health and social services for women and their children, needs everything from strollers and toys to adult clothes and toiletries. Information: (310) 641-7795.

* Ocean Park Community Center, a network of shelters and services serving the homeless, the mentally ill and battered women on the Westside, has a long list of holiday wishes that includes: men’s and women’s clothing, rain gear, backpacks, alarm clocks, Walkmans, towels, arts and crafts supplies, movie passes, twin bedspreads, stereo with tape player and CD player, clothing dryers, Macintosh monitors, laser printers, a personal computer, toiletries, food, toys, sports equipment, sandbox, tricycles, wagons, kids’ and teens’ books, games, children’s clothing, baby toys, radios, watches, wallets, disposable cameras and gift certificates for fast food, books, music, movies and clothing. Information: (904) 404-2715.

* The Center for Infant-Parent Development in Woodland Hills, which serves families with babies at risk for developmental delays, is asking for: dolls, cradles, baby bottles, plastic animals, blocks, art materials, play phones, toy cars, puppets and infant development toys. Information: (818) 971-5284.

* Masada Homes foster family agency in Torrance, which serves children, many of whom are abused and neglected, needs gifts for a Dec. 12 Christmas party and later events. Wishes include: gifts for children, newborn to 17 years old; toys; videos; clothing; books; tickets to amusement parks, arts and crafts supplies; and food baskets. Information: (310) 328-4813.

* The Center for the Partially Sighted needs magnifiers that are 3X or greater and closed-circuit televisions. Information: Patricia Jordan, (310) 458-3305.

* Childrens Hospital Los Angeles needs new toys, clothing and books to give to ill children, particularly those who have very little at home. Information: Wendi Kellaris, (213) 660-2450.

* The Los Angeles Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals wishes for these things to keep the shelters going: biocular microscopes, fax machine, stereo radios, grooming supplies, kitchen supplies, large cotton towels, kitchen utensils, cat toys, a laptop computer, videotapes, warehouse space, land (six to 10 acres), 35-millimeter camera, video camera, Polaroid film, color laser printer, color copier, adding machines and paper shredders. Information: (323) 730-5300.

* People to adopt needy families for the holidays or to donate food baskets, toys, clothes and store certificates are what the Volunteer Center, South Bay-Harbor-Long Beach wishes for its Adopt-a-Family program. Information: (310) 212-5009.

* California Literacy in Pasadena needs videocassette recorders, donations of printing, an overhead projector, fax machine, blank videotapes, copying services and volunteers to help adults and youths improve their literacy skills. Information: (626) 395-9989.

* The Children’s Center of Riverside is asking for the following for needy families: grocery store gift certificates, holiday food baskets, and new, unwrapped clothing and toys for infants, toddlers and children up to age 6. The majority of children are physically or developmentally disabled, so toys that stimulate learning and movement would be appreciated. Information: Lisa Marie Dryan, (909) 784-0020.