By Gary Kohatsu
The Gardena Police Foundation have kicked off the 2023 Helping Hands holiday food and toy fundraiser for needy families with three monetary contributions and toy donations.
Friends of the Library and Councilmember Paulette Francis each contributed $200. The Gardena Valley Affiliated Committee on Aging gave $100.
Now in its 42nd year, the holiday program is underway and donations of new, unwrapped toys, books, art supplies, board games, sports equipment and gift cards are welcome through Friday, Dec. 11.
The annual Helping Hands program is conducted through the city of Gardena.
There are eight drop-off locations: City Hall, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Gardena Transit, 13999 S. Western Ave., Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the Human Services Building, 1651 W. 162nd St., Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the Nakaoka Community Center, 1670 W. 162nd St.; Freeman Park, 2100 block of
W. 154th Place, Monday to Friday, 3 to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Arthur Johnson Park, 1200 block of W. 170th St., Monday to Friday, 3 to 9 p.m., and Sat- urday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Mas Fukai Park, 15800 Brighton Ave., Monday to Fri-
day, 3 to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Rowley Park, 13220 Van Ness Ave., Monday to Friday, 3 to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Monetary donations are also accepted and welcomed via www.cityofgardena.org/events. For questions regarding the registration process, contact the Human Services Division at 310-217-9574 or email helpinghands@cityofgardena.org
The Helping Hands program helps between 400 and 450 families each holiday season. That would include about 700 children and overall, about 2,000 people.
For a great cause
Sponsored by the city of Gardena in partnership with the Gardena Valley News, the holiday food drive began in 1980 as a food basket giveaway to Gardena’s less fortunate.
In recent years, food vouchers to area grocery stores have replaced food baskets, which provides families with a greater selection of food items, including dietary and ethnic items.
Last year, the Helping Hands program received palettes of canned foods and non-perishables from various groups for the holiday.
The city of Gardena provides all staffing in the Hands drive and all monetary contributions go toward the holiday fundraiser and the year-round food pantry.
No money is used for administrative costs.
As in the past, the Gardena Valley News will publish a list of contributors, with a weekly update of new donors.
To learn more about the event, contact Jaclyn Arcos, City of Gardena Recreation Department, at 310-217-9574.
