More than 6,000 toys, books and retail gift cards are needed to bring holiday cheer to foster and underprivileged children in Ventura County, according to Lynda Miller, founder of Support for the Kids.
The all-volunteer non-profit organization has set up shop - Santa's Workshop that is - at Hollywood Storage Center of Thousand Oaks, 3425 Old Conejo Road in Newbury Park, to collect gifts that will be directly distributed at holiday parties for foster and underprivileged children ages birth to 18. Additionally, Miller will personally deliver donated items to families in need straight through Christmas Eve.
As a thank you to the community for their generosity, free professional photos with an authentic, real-bearded Santa will be available on Dec. 8, 15 and 22 from noon to 4 p.m. Families, sports teams, groups, and even pets are welcome. Freshly baked cookies and hot cocoa will also be served at no charge.
"Last year, we served 4,900 children, and this year, our goal is to reach 6,000 children who would not otherwise receive presents this holiday season. So, as you can see, the demand is huge for donations to be brought to Hollywood Storage," she says.
New, unwrapped gifts will be accepted in the lobby from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily from through Dec. 23. Donors will be entered to win a Starbucks gift basket.
"Don't forget to bring the holiday gifts you want to mail too," says Miller. "Hollywood Storage Center is Newbury Park's new USPS location, and they'll have a room where you can box and wrap your gifts too."
Support for the Kids is a 501 c3 non-profit organization founded in 2000 to provide educational enrichment and comprehensive services to underprivileged and foster children and their families in Ventura County.
Hollywood Storage Center of Thousand Oaks is the largest storage facility in the Conejo Valley offering private spaces in more than 50 sizes, Penske truck rentals, wine storage, safety deposit boxes, United States Postal Service Station, boxes, moving supplies, and holiday cards & gift wrap.
For more information, call Support for the Kids at (805) 373-6661 or Hollywood Storage Center at (805) 499-2700, or visit
www.needstorage.com.