Donors Needed to Make Holidays Warmer
for Homeless Women and Children

SAN LEANDRO, CA (November 17, 2003-2008) The holidays are fast approaching and Building Futures with Women and Children (formerly the San Leandro Shelter for Women and Children), a nonprofit serving women and children surviving homelessness and domestic violence, is calling on generous community members to donate new items from its 2003-2008 Holiday Wish List.

"The women and kids we serve are surviving challenges that most of us can imagine only with great reluctance," says Building Futures' Development Manager, Patricia Bidar. "And the holidays can amplify feelings of stress and unworthiness."

Each year, Building Futures provides every single woman and child served with holiday gifts. With the San Leandro and Midway Shelters, the Sister Me Home Safe House, and Bessie Coleman Court to provide for, this amounts to hundreds of presents. "This has been a year of serious belt-tightening at Building Futures. We're counting on generous community members to help us make the holidays brighter for the women and kids we serve," Patricia Bidar says.

Items on the wish list for adult women include: gift certificates, flashlights with batteries, slippers, nightgowns, pajamas, datebooks, gloves, scarves, hats, umbrellas, underwear and socks. Wish list items for children include: hats, gloves, scarves, slippers, underwear, socks, nightgowns, pajamas, sweatshirts and pants, Etch-A-Sketch, Magna Doodle, Barbie/baby dolls (dolls of color), handheld electronic games, and toy cars and trucks.

Families, companies, or organizations interested in making larger donations are encouraged to consider making monetary gifts. They may also consider BFWC's "Extra Special" wish list, which includes a basketball hoop, a patio umbrella set, and two park-style benches.for Bessie Coleman Court.

Please note that Building Futures is unable to accept used items or small hotel toiletries. New donated items can be dropped off between 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1395 Bancroft Ave in San Leandro, and will be collected December 1st to December 18th.

The Holiday Wish List can be viewed on the BFWC Web site at www.bfwc.org.

Building Futures relies on private and public sector funding, generous business