Donna Prenta forwarded me an invite to holiday parties for local kids with disabilities living in group homes.
Click on continue reading to find out all the details.
With Christmas around the corner it seems right to share news about local charities and groups doing the right thing. If your group has news to share let us all know.
By the way, I posted a few weeks back asking where there is a Toy drop off for the Foy Toy drive* but I haven't heard anything back. Does anyone know a local Simi Valley Toy Drop off?
The Rotary Club of Simi Sunset, SVUSD Special Education Advisory Committee and the Amanda McPherson Foundation are co-hosting Holiday parties for children with disabilities residing in eight group homes throughout Simi Valley (approximately 40-50 children.) Homes that will be visited are; The Kids Kottage, Epiphany Care Homes and Little Verardo Homes. Various youth groups from service clubs, churches and scouts will be attending to help make the parties more festive.
Parties are scheduled for Thursday evening, December sixth. Volunteers will gather at the SVUSD offices and then travel to the various homes.
This is a great community outreach to help children who are less fortunate and have very little opportunity for visitors.
Current sponsors of the event includes - The Magical Kitchen and Del Taco. Additional sponsorships are welcome.
Gift certificates for dining or entertainment are welcome gifts for the children as well as batteries of all types that can be used in a host of electronics, adaptive communication and therapeutic devices. Anyone who is interested in becoming involved or contributing towards gifts for the children can contact Donna Prenta at tprenta@aol.com or 805-404-0914.
Brian,
If the Foy Toy Drive would like to bring a box to my bank (First California Bank) up at the mall, I would be happy to place it in the lobby. On the 20th of December, the Chamber will be hosting a holiday party and to get in you must bring a toy of food for care and share...The Marines will also have a barrel there.
Brian,
Thank you for letting people know about the parties. There are now ten homes throughout Simi Valley for 56 children.
It has been my hearts desire to raise awareness of the children residing in these homes. When SEAC first hosted the parties two years ago we had over 100 volunteers come out. People are looking for ways to add purpose to the Holidays. Getting directly involved with the kids is very rewarding and volunteers walk away having given a bigger gift to themselves by getting involved and making a difference in a child's life.
Many community leaders and organizations were unaware that we had so many children with disabilities placed in residential care away from their families.
I am confident that when the good people of Ventura County know about the children they will become more involved in improving their quality of lives.
After the last parties some of the participants have visited the children on an ongoing basis. I have been told by the group home owners that 80% of the childrne that reside in these homes do not receive a single visit from their families during the holidays.
I hope to schedule another party in the Spring to have a tea party and help the children to plant flowers in their yards.
Donna - What are the ages, and are there specific kinds of toys that are better than others?
Thank you for asking Leslie, the children's ages are 7-22 years of age.
Twenty six of the children are in wheelchairs many are autistic so traditional toys don't apply. My suggestion is batteries because so many of the children have adaptive toys, CD players and augmentative communication devices that require batteries.
SEAC is donating an animated movie, concert DVD and nature DVD. Nature movies are very calming for the children. All the homes had G rated movies and music on their wish lists.
Gift certificates to help the children to get out in public helps as well, any movie theater, fast food, bowling etc. would be great and easier to split up between the homes according to thier unique needs.
I am donating tickets to kids for the Simi Valley Iceoplex -"Wizard of Oz on Ice" they are giving us a 20% discount on tickets for children $4.00 ea. and their adult aides $8.00 ea.
My Rotary Club is taking donations to buy tickets to a show at the Cultural Arts Center in Simi Valley. We negotiated a reduced price for tickets at $10.00 a piece.
Leslie, you can e-mail me directly if you want to arrange to make a donation or call me.
will do. thanks
Great job Donna! Donna Prenta is the kind of person we need in a public office!
Dakota West,
Thank you for your kind words. It's onward and upward, time will tell where God wants me to use my time, gifts and talents.
I enjoy giving back to the community that I love.
Donna,
I will email you to make a donation. This is great.
Thousand Oaks area: my daughter's preschool, Sisters of Notre Dame Learning Center, is collecting toys for children in foster care in Ventura County as well.