La Cañada Presbyterian Church’s Parent Education Program will host a toy drive supporting its charity partner FosterAll.
The church’s goal is to collect 100 toys, and they’re hoping the local community will get in the spirit and join them. Now through Nov. 29, LCPC Parent Ed will be collecting new, unwrapped gifts for boys and girls aged 5-10 years in the donation bin located in MacCormick Ministry Hub by the circular driveway of La Cañada Presbyterian Church. Additional collection bins will be available outside of classrooms for those on campus for class. Monetary donations will also be accepted online at lacanadapc.org/give/ways-to-give/.
In order to celebrate the holiday together and show appreciation to foster families who have opened up their hearts and homes to children in need, on Saturday, Dec. 2, LCPC will open its campus to foster families for a fun-filled day that includes games, crafts, music, entertainment, a delicious meal and Santa’s Toy Shop. LCPC Parent Ed board members will be in attendance to help with meals, crafts and gifts at the event.
FosterAll recruits prospective resource/foster parents from faith communities and provides ongoing support to these heroic families so that they can provide safe and loving homes for the thousands of children who have been abused and neglected.
The nonprofit began with one voice, one church and one family helping one child. Since its inception, this process has been repeated more than 3,600 times and has created countless families.
FosterAll emerged in 1985 when Dr. Mary Rotzien served as an intern at the MacLaren Children’s Center, a troubled Los Angeles County residential facility that has since closed. Devastated by the number of children in foster care who were without homes, she felt if faith communities were to bring families to these children, the crisis could be averted. With financial support and encouragement from Westwood Presbyterian Church and her husband Brian Buchanan, Rotzien created FosterAll, formerly known as Child S.H.A.R.E.
Rotzien’s vision continues today. FosterAll, with more than 350 faith partners, strives to find these children safe, supportive and loving homes. More information about FosterAll can be found at fosterall.org.
First published in the November 23 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
