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December 16, 2005
Needy kids' and
families' dreams come true, thanks to agency Joy Hakanson Colby When it comes to holiday giving, nothing is left to chance at the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency in Pontiac. |
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Two plans will make wishes come true for 2,400 children in Metro Detroit this month and bring cheer to at least 300 needy families. The nonprofit agency founded 41 years ago conducts 76 programs ranging from prenatal to senior care. But the focus for the holidays is on Adopt-A-Family and Children's Wish, says spokesperson Jessica Valascho. The "adoption" process works like this: Donors are asked how much they can afford and the agency matches them with a family. "Sometimes, co-workers from a company get together on their own to adopt a family," Valascho says. "We had several such groups this year." The Children's Wish program is run by the Bloomfield Optimist Club. "We provide the children from the Head Start program and from a charter school in Pontiac, and the club finds ways to purchase items that the children want," Valascho says. "Gifts should cost between $35 and $40." Youngsters make out their lists with two wishes at the beginning of the school year. These are entered into a database, and labels are produced to be sure each child gets the right gift. Wish lists are distributed to companies, schools and organizations in the community. When shopping is completed, the Optimist Club and the agency distribute the gifts. "If we take a child, that child is guaranteed a gift," Valascho says. "We ask companies to take between 25 and 30 names. Delphi took 150 this year." Valascho observes that some people go overboard. "The limit is $40. But I saw a new bike come in last year with several wrapped packages dangling from the handlebars." The Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency, which has branches in Howell, Ferndale and Holly, receives funding from federal, state, local and private sources. It has between 400 and 500 full-time and part-time employees on call. Places to donate American Red Cross, Southeastern Michigan Chapter, 100 Mack Ave., Detroit 48201, www.semred cross.org, (313) 833-2664. Needed: Cash donations, blankets for twin beds. 167 W. Pike St., Pontiac, MI 48341, (248) 334-3827. Needed: Gloves, mittens, winter hats, children's pajamas, children's winter coats, children's under clothing, personal care products, school supplies. 1545 E. Lincoln Ave., Royal Oak, www.boysandgirlsclub. us, (248) 544-4166. Needed: 12-passenger van, digital camera, new Pentium computer, laser printer, pingpong table, kiln, funds for new basketball uniforms. CareGivers, 2111 Woodward Ave. Suite 700, Detroit, (313) 964-5070. Needed: Beds, mattresses, large appliances, pots and pans, toys, linen, food, outerwear, curtains, small appliances. Cass Community Social Services, 11850 Woodrow Wilson St., Detroit, www.cass community.org, (313) 883-2277. Needed: Adult and children's underwear, socks, puzzles, board games, blankets, twin bed sheets, prelit Christmas tree. Catholic Services of Macomb, 15945 Canal Road, Clinton Township, P.O. Box 380290, Clinton Township, ?a target="new" href="http://www.csmacomb.org"?www.csmacomb.org , (586) 416-2300. Needed: Baby items, gift certificates for local grocery stores, a van for transport. Catholic Social Services of Oakland County Inc., 50 Wayne St., Pontiac, www.cssoc. org, (248) 333-3700. Needed: Gift certificates, camcorder, TV/VCR/DVD combo, digital camera, cash donations, infant and booster car seats, twin beds and bedding, cribs and bedding, storybooks, educational toys, craft supplies, gardening equipment, large print and audio books, sugar-free snacks and drinks, overhead projector, sewing machine, piano tuning and repair, baking volunteers, handyman volunteer. Catholic Social Services of Wayne County, 9851 Hamilton Ave., Detroit, ?a target="new" href="http://www.csswayne.org"?www.csswayne.org , (313) 883-2100. Needed: Wheelchair lift, carpet, paint, power washing, outside signage, color printer, snow blower, laptop projector, infant changing table, new coats for ages 12-17, digital camera. Coalition on Temporary Shelter (COTS), 26 Peterboro St., Detroit, ?a target="new" href="http://www.cotsdetroit.org"?www.cotsdetroit.org , (313) 831-3777. Needed: Construction paper, paint, paintbrushes, finger paints, children's books, book bags/school supplies, disposable diapers, baby wipes, tissues, infant items, disposable razors, dental floss, personal care items, towels and washcloths, twin sheets, pillows, blankets, canned foods/nonperishables, televisions, small kitchen appliances, vacuum cleaners, new underclothing (all sizes), extra-large women's and men's clothing, coats, shoes/boots. Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, 150 Stimson St., Detroit 48201, ?a target="new" href="http://www.drmm.org"?www.drmm.org , (313) 993-4700. Needed: Cash donations, canned goods, janitorial supplies, personal hygiene items. Easter Seals Society of Michigan Inc., 1105 N. Telegraph Road, Waterford Township, ?a target="new" href="http://www.mi.easterseals"?www.mi.easterseals .com, (248) 451-2991. Needed (do not wrap items): Gift certificates, cleaning supplies, small kitchen appliances, dishes, personal care items, hair clips, clothes, gift boxes (all sizes), wrapping paper, linens, alarm clocks, television, CD player, computers and educational software, school supplies, duffle bags, journals and pens, scrapbooks and materials, tools, batteries (AA, AAA, D, C), Christmas music tapes and CDs, DVD and VHS movies (G, PG, PG-13), board games, card games, puzzles, stuffed animals, footballs and basketballs, dolls, action figures, toy cars, coats, gloves, hats and scarves. Franklin-Wright Settlements Inc., 3360 Charlevoix St., Detroit, (313) 579-1000. Needed: Microphones, art supplies, basketballs, lobby furniture, senior citizen bus. Gleaners Community Food Bank Inc., 2131 Beaufait St., Detroit, ?a target="new" href="http://www.gcfb.org"?www.gcfb.org , (313) 923-3535. Needed: Canned goods, shelf-stable foods. Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit, 3111 Grand River Ave., Detroit 48208. www.goodwilldetroit .org, (313) 964-3900. Needed: Cash donations. Latin Americans for Social and Economic Development Inc. (LASED), 4138 W. Vernor Ave., Detroit, (313) 554-2025. Needed: Families to adopt other families, food, toys, gift certificates. Methodist Children's Home Society, 26645 W. Six Mile, Detroit, www.themethodistchildrenshome. com, (313) 531-9464. Needed: Kitchen items, linen, Christmas trees, DVD/VCR combo players, holiday decorations, movie passes, stereo systems, action figures, baseball mitts, basketball pumps, bike helmets, bike pumps, board games, comic books, disposable cameras, Lego sets, model cars, playing cards, race car sets, sleds, children's clothes, team baseball caps, yo-yo's, backpacks, cologne, computer, thesaurus and dictionary. Operation Get Down - Community Resource Projects, Inc., 10100 Harper Ave. Detroit, (313) 921-9422. Needed: Gloves, socks, hats, shirts, underwear, hygiene packets, blankets, linen, coats, soap, belts, shoes. South Oakland Shelter, 431 N. Main St., Royal Oak, (248) 546-6566. Needed: Bath towels and wash cloths, sheets (extra-long twin flat or fitted), pillows, pillowcases, blankets, various toiletry items, bottled water, laundry detergent, bleach, disposable diapers, baby wipes, nonperishable food, duffel bags, new men's and women's underwear and socks, men'sT-shirts (extra-large), hats and gloves for men, women and children; men and women's shoes, sweatshirts and sweatpants for women, men and children (plain colors; size medium to 2XL for adults; all sizes for children), men's belts, jeans (size 34-52 long) and shirts, cash. The Furniture Bank of Oakland County, 333 N. Perry St., Pontiac, ?a target="new" href="http://www.thefurniturebank.com"?www.thefurniturebank.com , (248) 332-1300. Needed: Beds, dining room tables and chairs, dressers, stoves, refrigerators, washers and dryers, mattresses and box springs. The Old Newsboys' Goodfellow Fund of Detroit, P.O. Box 44444, Detroit, 48244-0444, www.oldnews boysgoodfellows.org, (586) 775-6139. Needed: Checks to help prepare holiday packages for needy 5 to 13-year-olds. Individuals are asked just to send money, not individual articles. Corporations, however, are welcome to provide sweatshirts, toys, a frontloader or a warehouse. The Salvation Army/Eastern Michigan Division, 16130 Northland Drive, Southfield, ?a target="new" href="http://www.usc.salvatio"?www.usc.salvatio narmy.org/usc/www_usc_emi.nsf, (248) 443-5500. Needed: Toys for teens, new winter coats, gift certificates, toys for children. Toys for Tots, 500 Eastland Center, Vernier Road, Harper Woods, ?a target="new" href="http://www.toysfortotssemi.com"?www.toysfortotssemi.com , (313) 363-9480. Needed: Electronics, games, music CDs, CD players, baby toys, footballs, basketballs, Barbie dolls and accessories, anything educational. Travelers Aid Society of Detroit, 1150 Griswold St., Suite 1800, Detroit www.travelersaiddetroit. org, (313) 962-6740. Needed: Turkeys, toys, coats, shoes, low-cost housing, furniture, small appliances. Turning Point, Inc., 158 S. Main St., Mount Clemens. www.turningpoint inc.com, (586) 463-4430. Needed: Food, office supplies, journals, gas cards, household Items, casual and business clothing for women, school clothes for children and teens, winter coats, toys, puzzles, games (nonviolent), arts and craft kits, paperback dictionaries, multiplication flashcards, combination locks. University of Michigan C. S. Mott Children's Hospital, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, (734) 764-2220 . ?a target="new" href="http://www.med.umich.edu/mott"?www.med.umich.edu/mott . Gift certificates or gift cards from Target, Meijer, Michaels, Toys-R-Us, Wal-Mart, Borders, Barnes & Noble in $20 or less denominations; U-M memorabilia (hats, shirts, blankets); twin-sized blankets; monetary gifts. Detroit News readers help out In past years, The Detroit News has sponsored a holiday Helping Hands program that matched people who needed assistance with readers willing to help. This year, however, the newspaper directed those queries to organizations specializing in giving relief year-round. As a result, The Detroit News has disbursed funds from the Helping Hands account to four organizations, each receiving approximately $18,830. Those organizations are: Forgotten Harvest in Southfield, Coalition on Temporary Shelter (COTS) in Detroit, Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency in Pontiac and Turning Point Inc. in Mount Clemens. |