“One From the Heart” raises money to buy gifts and books for over 44,000 abused and neglected children who are receiving services, such as foster care, along with the 200,000 children that receive emergency services through the Department of Children and Family Services of Los Angeles County, the largest government agency in the world that provides child protective services.
This event is a grassroots effort by the social workers who on a daily basis confront situations where children need to be removed from dangerous family conditions. These social workers and their supporting staff want to help meet the emotional, social and intellectual needs of children in crisis, over and above what the County can provide. While the County can meet the basic needs of many of the children, it cannot provide many of the things that enhance self-esteem and help prepare these children to lead productive adult lives. Certain kinds of gifts, called “comfort toys”, can help reduce a child’s immediate anxiety. Besides comfort toys, the “One From the Heart” event helps purchase books and other gifts, designed to increase the level of literacy and opportunity for these deserving, yet underserved children. Many of these gifts are given to children during the winter holiday season.
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That's right up your alley, TCB, no?!
