DEADLINE
DEC. 10!
Every Child has a wish for the Holidays!
Penny Lane is a family treatment center that cares for the most difficult to manage children with the highest quality care. These kids have been so sexually, emotionally and physically abused, they cannot be placed in regular foster care.
We have children from all over California, Nevada and Arizona. The Be A Santa program focuses on the 104 teens in residence in the North Hills main facility and 8 satellite houses. Penny Lane also services over 1500 young children in foster care. The Be A Santa program frees up resources for them.
Although we focus on the 104 teens in residence, I’d also like to give Westfield gift cards to the 40 young adults in Penny Lane’s revolutionary Transitional Living program.
Dear Pat and Friends,
I’d like to thank all who’s helping Penny Lane kids out. I think it’s a good thing that people is helping out with us. I have been here almost 5 years and you help out a lot of people that come and that left. You have been the biggest inspiration in my life when I am in PL so thanks for what you have done and I just hope that you keep doing what you are doing.
- Boy age 18
I ask the kids to write and to tell me a little about themselves. Some are very eloquent. Read letters from the PL residents.
Even though the children at Penny Lane are there because their families have failed them in some fundamental way, the kids wish lists so often include the same cry for love:
My wish is to go home to my family because without them I would be lost.
If I could have one gift, that would be for my mother and me to get along.
I am not in the Christmas spirit. I am not with the people I love. The only thing I want would be something that came from the heart. I don’t care what it is.
If you want to find a nice gift for me, find my sister. Her name is…
The children at Penny Lane get something more precious that they can imagine, more valuable than they know. Not just the hard working, dedicated staff at Penny Lane, they get the love of the people who help from the heart with this project. Please remember the children of Penny Lane this Holiday. Thank you…..from the heart!
How You Can Help
On this site, check out the letters. Some are good about writing about themselves, others have to be coaxed into just writing a few basic things. They have been through so much, it’s hard for them to get their hopes up. It’s so sweet to me how they trust us enough to give me a letter at all.
-- If you have the time you can get items from the list on the site...or email me for other ideas.
-- Throw a party like Dari and have guests bring books and small gifts to wrap. Lable everything for me or I'll have to unwrap them and there goes all your efforts!
-- If you are having a holiday gathering, as friends to bring something from the list on the site. Or write a check!
-- Get your group, team, family or department to sponsor an entire house (6 boys or girls) or caseload (10-14 girls).
You can mail or drop off the gifts to: Be A Santa c/o Pat Tallman
6433 Topanga Canyon Blvd. #207 Canoga Park, CA 91303
PLEASE do NOT ship insured. I cannot stand in line for every package. Yikes.
-- Too Busy? Send us a check, made out to Penny Lane and we’ll do the shopping!
-- Please write a Holiday card from you and your family. The kids love this.
-- Don’t forget to e-mail us with what you are doing so we can focus on the kids who haven’t been bought for yet. Let us know if you have any questions.
Remember our deadline for gifts is Dec.10. I need to shop and get the bags done. You can donate all year!
We can’t wait to hear from you!
BE A SANTA 2008: Check out What
we need to find out how to give the Penny Lane kids a great holiday
season!
DONATE ON FACEBOOK via Pat's Be A Santa fundraising page!
Check out Dari's Wrap Party (some 300 books were wrapped for Be a Santa in 2007 and 2008); and the Be a Santa Team in 2008!