Tulare County businesses, agencies and community partners have been collecting toys for the annual Child Welfare Services (CWS) and Friends of Tulare County Toy Drive. Over 1,500 children and youth in child protective services can expect to feel included during the Holidays as they receive gifts because of community generosity.
Community residents are asked to help “Brighten a Child’s Winter Sky” by participating in the annual Tulare County CWS and Friends of Tulare County Toy Drive. Though foster and group homes provide basic necessities like clothing and food for these children, it is difficult to stretch that funding to include anything extra special. Your contribution can help ensure that these children and youth do not go without a gift this Holidays.
“The efforts of Tulare County employees and the generous donations from the community are appreciated and welcomed by the children and youth who are not able to be at home during the Holiday season,” said John A. Mauro, L.C.S.W., division manager of CWS.
Making a donation is as easy as dropping off a new and unwrapped gift for a child or youth at one of the many collection boxes volunteers have already set out at community sites. You can also log on to www.friendsoftularecounty.org, where instructions are available to help you choose a child, print a star, and learn about the gifts that are on the child’s “wish list,” then attach that star to the unwrapped gift(s) and drop it off at one of the many collection sites throughout the county.
Contributions are accepted through Friday, December 5. Gifts will be distributed through the week of December 8. Community members who wish to make a financial contribution can do so through Friends of Tulare County by mailing checks to 5957 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia, CA 93277, Attn: Brooke Sisk. Please write “CWS Toy Drive” in the memo line.
More information can be found by logging on to www.tchhsa.org and clicking on the “Spotlight” tab, or by logging on to www.friendsoftularecounty.org and clicking on the “CWS Toy Drive” tab. This annual event is made possible by collaborative partners including: CWS, Friends of Tulare County, Tulare County Board of Supervisors, Pirates for Hope, Bikers United for Kids, and many others.