Toy drive to benefit children’s hospital

While doing your grocery shopping this weekend, you might get a chance to brighten a child’s day. Golden Valley High School Sophomore Christopher Lea-Perkins is putting together a toy and gift card drive benefiting Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. This is the first time he has organized a project of this kind.

From 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on October 3 and 8, Lea-Perkins and about a dozen cadets from his Air Force JROTC flight will be accepting donations of toys and gift cards outside the local Food 4 Less and Albertsons. The cadets will be earning community service hours toward their JROTC requirements, and all donated toys will be distributed to help children and families cope with hospitalization and aid the recovery process.

Lea-Perkins and his sister decided they wanted to help the hospital, which distributes approximately 500 toys a week to patients, during the Christmas season. Finding storage space for so many toys can be problematic, so the hospital also encourages donations of gift cards. Cards and certificates allow hospital personnel to make “on-demand” purchases of toys, educational games, or books that will most benefit a specific child.