Groups pressed for holiday donations

GLENDALE — Local nonprofits and firehouses have been struggling to gather enough toys from financially strapped donors for hundreds of low-income children this holiday season.

With more families seeking out free services this year due to financial constraints, local community toy drives and nonprofit organizations are feeling the pressure to fulfill their needs, and this Christmas, their wish lists.

Community leaders said demands for goods have increased, but donations haven’t matched that need.

“I am concerned we won’t have enough to fulfill everyone’s request,” said Tanya Gregorian, Glendale Fire’s public education coordinator.

After Thanksgiving, the Glendale Fire Department started collecting new and unwrapped toys for the “Spark of Love” toy campaign, which partners Southland firefighters with the TV station ABC7. Firefighters distribute the toys to nonprofit organizations and schools in their communities.

Compounding the problem is the fact that the requests this year are three-fold what they were last year, Gregorian said.

So far, the Fire Department has collected nearly 300 toys, she said, far less than the 2,500 it needs to collect to fulfill orders from local organizations, including New Horizons Family Center, Glendale Head Start and the Salvation Army Glendale.

“I would hate to leave anyone without any gifts,” she said.

Last year, the Fire Department donated 1,000 toys to New Horizons Family Center, which distributes the toys at their annual toy giveaway. This year’s Toys on the Horizon giveaway is Dec. 19.

Representatives for the nonprofit could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

The Fire Department is hoping to give the center at least 700 toys, Gregorian said.

But firefighters aren’t the only ones soliciting toy donations this year.

Salvation Army Glendale needs toys for 50 children, who belong to the organization’s Angel Tree program, said Meghan Ravada, the nonprofit’s Safe Place coordinator.

Children who participate in the program are adopted by an individual or family, who buys toys put on a wish list.

The organization also saw an increase in the number of families that asked for help this holiday season, Ravada said.

Last year, 63 families were adopted in the program. That number jumped to 205 this year.

The families receive food, gifts, clothes and other necessities from community members through the organization’s Adopt-A-Family program.

The organization served 63 kids last year in its holiday programs.

This year, they plan to take care of 500 children, Ravada said.