Local kids make holidays brighter

By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers CHILDREN DONATE TOYS- Fifth-grade students from Oak Park listen to Ventura County Children's Services speaker Annie Barker explain how their donated toys will be given to area foster children. The children, led by teacher Quincy Melville, participated in the Giving Tree toy drive at The Oaks mall.

The holiday spirit was clearly visible at The Oaks mall last Friday when a group of local elementary school students arrived at the Thousand Oaks shopping center to help make the holidays brighter for disadvantaged children.

About 50 fifth-graders, led by teacher Quincy Melville, traveled from Oak Hills Elementary in Oak Park to deliver games, dolls, puzzles, stuffed animals and other toys to the Giving Tree booth at the east end of the mall.

Sponsored by Ventura County Children and Family Services and its volunteer-run Children’s Services Auxiliary, the toys will be distributed to 800 children in the county’s foster care system and to 5,200 other disadvantaged local youth.

"It feels good when you give away gifts," said Josh Nathanson, 10, who, along with his classmates Matthew Spector and Kevin Marks, listened as auxiliary volunteer Annie Barker talked about the plight of foster children. Spector, who donated Christmas stockings and card games, said it was good to learn about other kids’ situations.

"There are some children who, when in their homes with their moms and dads, are not treated very well," Barker explained. "We find a place that’s safe for them and while they’re living with these other families, we help them."

For more than 18 years, the auxiliary has run the Giving Tree toy drive at the mall. Volunteers, including area residents, high school students, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops and other organizations, work the booth for several weeks before the holidays, accepting drop-off donations from the public.

A small Christmas tree at the booth is decorated with ornaments indicating the age and gender of individual children so that people can purchase appropriate items or gift certificates.

Gifts are distributed through local organizations that serve court-dependent children and needy families.

Donations can also be made at any Ventura County Fire Department station. Many mall stores donate merchandise to the Giving Tree project. Last year, the booth collected 1,300 items. In total, throughout the county, 32,000 gifts are donated each year.

"One lady knits baby clothes and blankets and brings them here," Barker said. "It’s really important to have this here at the mall where it is visible and people can contribute easily."

In addition to the toy drive, the auxiliary provides a technology scholarship for the purchase of a computer and printer for college-bound, court-dependent youth.

Twelve such scholarships were awarded in 2003 and in 2004. The auxiliary offers tutoring visits to the home.

During the first half of this year, 600 hours of tutoring at a cost of $12,000 were provided by the auxiliary. Summer camp fees, graduation incentives for court-dependent youth to complete high school, and clothing are some other ways the auxiliary provides support.

"Children often get pulled out of the home late at night and don’t have a chance to pack. They can go to the closets we have to pick up some changes of clothes," Barker said.

With the number of court-dependent youth increasing, the agency is in need of additional community support in order to keep its programs intact. Barker hopes to obtain assistance from corporations.

One foster parent who helped man the booth during the Oak Park students’ visit said that her children appreciate the gifts.

"The comment many foster children make when they open presents is, ‘Do I get to keep this?’ These are the kinds of things you hear and it breaks your heart," said the woman, who preferred to remain anonymous to protect the identity of her foster children.

To donate, please call the auxiliary at (805) 654-3447.