VOA seeks Caring Donations

Volunteers of America is seeking "caring gift" donations for the 2008 Christmas season. One of their programs, Gifts of Warmth, seeks new hats, gloves, scarves and socks that will be given out to people staying at shelters it administers. Another, Adopt-a-family, hopes to fulfill the Christmas wishes of many poor Sacramento families in VOA's transitional-living programs and seniors in VOA's affordable-living apartment units.

The organization is hoping to close its drives on Dec 12, but a collection site at Country Club Plaza will be open until the 20th for items, and cash donations will be accepted whenever received.

The Country Club Plaza collection site, in collaboration with Entercom, is at the plaza's center court near Santa Claus (through Dec. 20). Country Club Plaza is located at the corner of Watt and El Camino avenues in Sacramento.

VOA has shelters on Bannon Street, on A Street, and, for the winter, in Cal Expo. It also aids and provides housing for a small group of HIV-positive individuals. VOA also administers treatment and recovery services; mental health services; senior services; transitional housing; permanent supporting housing; and youth services.

Their fliers tell us that through Dec 12 "[item] donations may be dropped off at -- or mailed to -- their administrative office." Of course, checks may be mailed to VOA at any time, but the sooner the better to meet their "Caring Gifts" needs. VOA's address:

Volunteers of America
1900 Point West Way Suite 270
Sacramento, CA 95815

The office is open from 8:30 to 4:30.

For more information, contact Kim Casteneda at 916.442.3691 or kimc@voa-sac.org .

Or, visit the VOA home webpage: http://www.volunteersofamerica-sac.org/