Feel sad around Christmas time ...... Give a gift to someone who really needs cheering up.
Fill up stockings of local children
By Jimmy Biggerstaff
Hi-Desert Star
Published: Wednesday, December 3, 2008 1:50 AM CST
MORONGO BASIN — Christmas being the give-and-take proposition that it is, the Hi-Desert Star provides information about area organizations that provide Christmas gifts to people who might not normally receive them.
With the goal of helping get potential gift givers and gift recipients together, here are some local agencies that are collecting and distributing toys and other gifts this year:
The Basin’s biggest Christmas get-together, Tender Loving Christmas, celebrates its silver anniversary this year. It annually provides hundreds of children with gifts at a Christmas Day feast at the Yucca Valley Community Center. The collection center near Mohawk Trail and Twentynine Palms Highway accepts food, toys and other items from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Get details at 365-4TLC.
Learn about the Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys For Tots local program by visiting the Web site www.toysfortots.org or calling Maj. Brian Manifor at 830-6861.
The Dreams For Kids Adopt A Child program enhances the social and cultural lives of children in the care of Child Protective Services. To become involved in this endeavor, call 365-7219.
Area U.S. Postal Service mail handlers conduct their sixth annual toy drive Dec. 13. Postal patrons in Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree and Landers are invited to leave toys at the base of their mailbox for pick-up, or drop toys off at the post office.
The county fire stations in Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley and Yucca Mesa are collecting new, unwrapped toys through Christmas Eve for distribution through CPS and TLC. The firefighters will have an engine on display at Wal-Mart from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 13 in hopes that shoppers will find it within their hearts and their pockets to buy an extra gift for an anonymous recipient.
Other organizations that want to get the word out about their toy drives may send an e-mail outlining their program to jbiggerstaff@hidesertstar.com.
