Donors Needed to Make Holidays Extra Special for Homeless Women and Children

SAN LEANDRO, CA (November 21, 2002)- The holidays are fast approaching and Building Futures with Women and Children (BFWC), a nonprofit serving women and children surviving homelessness and domestic violence, needs community members to donate new items from its 2002 Holiday Wish List.

"Every year, we provide every resident at BFWC with a collection of new 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 gifts. We rely heavily on the community for this effort - without donors, we simply could not do it," said Martha Garcia, BFWC's volunteer and special events coordinator.

Items on the wish list for adult women include new: gift certificates, flashlights with batteries, slippers, nightgowns, gloves, scarves, hats, umbrellas, underwear and socks. Wish list items for children include: art supplies, toys, games, puzzles, sweatshirts, age-appropriate books, nightgowns, slippers and dolls.

Families, companies, or organizations interested in making larger donations are encouraged to consider making monetary donations or view the BFWC's "Extra Special" wish list which includes: a 32"-36" television for the Safe House, a dorm style refrigerator for Midway, new highchairs and booster seats for the San Leandro Shelter, and a VCR for Bessie Coleman Court.

Used items will not be accepted for the holidays, and small hotel toiletry items will not be collected. New donated items can be dropped off between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1395 Bancroft Ave in San Leandro, and will be collected December 2nd to December 16th. The Holiday Wish List can be found on the BFWC website at www.bfwc.org.

BFWC relies on private and public sector funding, generous business donors, sponsors and volunteers to be successful in providing services that benefit the many homeless and battered women and children that come to BFWC each day seeking food, shelter, safety, and support.

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