ChildShare

NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE USE
CONTACT: Amanda Turek November 6, 2008
818-243-4450 ext 16

GLENDALE, CA: Child S.H.A.R.E., a non-profit organization that finds quality foster and adoptive homes for neglected and abused children, announces a Christmas Toy Drive to provide gifts for children in foster and adoptive homes in Southern California.

For over 20 years Child S.H.A.R.E. has hosted an annual Christmas party for its member foster and adoptive families. In addition to caroling, arts and crafts, fabulous food and a visit from Santa, each child receives Christmas gifts at the annual party. Child S.H.A.R.E. is calling on the community to help collect toys and gifts to distribute to foster children at our Christmas party, which will be hosted by First Church of the Nazarene of Pasadena in December.

Child S.H.A.R.E. accepts donations of new toys, games, sports equipment, DVDs, books and gift cards (no clothes please). The target age for gifts is children 1-11 years old. Suggested items include: basketballs; soccer balls; footballs; remote controlled toys; dolls; trucks and cars; superhero action figures (Batman, Superman) and popular DVDs such as High School Musical or Dora the Explorer.

Some suggested stores for gift cards, in increments of $20 or $25 are: Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Borders, Best Buy, Circuit City, Old Navy, Vans, Target and Toys R Us, as well as movie theaters and music stores.

Please send or deliver all donations to Child S.H.A.R.E at: 1544 West Glenoaks Blvd., Glendale, CA 91201. Call Amanda Turek at 818-243-4450 ext 16 for more information. Please include your return contact information with all items so that we may mail you a non-profit receipt for your tax deduction. All donations must be received by December 8, 2008. Any donations received after that date will gladly be used for Welcome Baskets that are given to newly placed foster children throughout the year.

Child S.H.A.R.E. was created in 1985 in response to the thousands of foster children languishing in institutional care in Southern California. Convinced that the faith community could provide loving families for these vulnerable children, Child S.H.A.R.E. began working with one church to build a foster care support team to provide foster parents, respite homes, babysitters and volunteers from within the local congregation.

Since its inception, Child S.H.A.R.E. has collaborated with over 600 congregations representing over 30 denominations in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, as well as portions of San Bernardino, Ventura, and Riverside Counties. Child S.H.A.R.E. operates under the mission to challenge and equip local congregations, parents and volunteers to provide foster and adoptive families and friends for abused and neglected children in Southern California.