Cheer for Children is already receiving calls for help. We put the family names on our list, though we’re never sure we can help everyone on the list.
Cheer for Children is a very small organization founded in 1985 and run entirely by volunteers. We hold a party each holiday season for acutely ill children at Harbor UCLA . It may be their last holiday season, so we try to make it special..
Through our “Adopt-a-family” program we match over 500 volunteer families with needy families. Last year, one of our families wrote, “The people who give to Cheer for Children don’t even know us and they are so generous. We wish we could tell them just how much it does for this one family to be happy on Christmas”.
We also bring gifts to close to 1,000 children who might not otherwise have a Christmas. These children are referred to us by hospitals, schools, churches, fire departments and social workers.
On the day before our Harbor UCLA party we we will be sorting presents wondering if we have enough when people from from throughout the South Bay start coming in with bag after bag of toys and gift cards.
We have toy collection boxes and change jars at over 50 local businesses during November and December. We use the change jar money to buy gift certificates. People hosting home parties also put out collection boxes for us. If you would like a toy donation box for your business or a home party, we will get one right out to you.
A few of the things we are looking for are: toiletries, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, lip balm, sweaters, socks, underwear, diapers, hair brushes, hair clips, scrunchies. Educational and Disney DVD’s, shoe certificates from Payless, Big 5 and Footlocker. Clothing and miscellaneous gift Cards from Kohls, Target, JC Penney, and Walmart. Grocery gift cards from Albertsons, Vons Ralphs, 99 cent store, and others. Automobile gas cards from Arco, Chevron, and Shell. We even accept phone cards and Trac Phones.
Teenagers are our most overlooked group. For teenage boys and girls you can donate movie theater certificates (AMC or Pacific Theater tickets), ITunes cards, Forever 21 gift certificates, Handheld CD or MP3 players, jewelry and best starter kit for gel nails for girls, sports balls for boys. Bicycles, laptops and tablets are also treasured gifts.
Other suggested gift cards include: Staples, Office Depo, Barnes & Noble, haircuts and fast food ( McDonalds, Arbys, Wendy’s, Burger King, Taco Bell and Jack in the Box).
Or, anything else you think would benefit a child.
Just purchase the items and drop them off in the boxes at either Redondo Beach Fire Station or any one of the the other 50-plus locations listed on on our website.
And finally, consider volunteering. Your reward will be the grin on a child’s face. The South Bay has come through for us every year and hope that you will join us again this year.
If you have any questions call (310) 540-2492. Our website has continuous updates and can be viewed at www.cheerforchildren.net. ER
