The Season of Giving – Something for Everyone
You would have to live at the North Pole with no access to television, radio or newspapers to not have experienced some of the challenges that 2009 has brought us. This year, more than prior years, you can walk around your neighborhood and feel a stronger “sense of community,” said Mayor Mark Nuaimi, as the service clubs, faith based organizations and businesses get ready to collect toys and canned foods to deliver to those less fortunate.
“In the City of Fontana, we have been blessed with great leadership, committed business leaders and residents supportive of all the good work that has taken place in our City over the past twelve months,”, said Nuaimi. “We continue to move forward with providing our residents the best possible service, while keeping in mind the realities of the current state of the economy.”
There are many ways to support your fellow neighbors during the holiday season. Any level of support you can afford in the spirit of giving will make a significant impact on the lives of Fontana’s children and families. Join your community in celebrating Fontana and all it has to offer. Donate today.
The Fontana Exchange Club
The Fontana Exchange Club has partnered with the staff of the Lewis Library and Technology Center to collect canned goods at the Library, located at 8437 Sierra Avenue. The food collected will be used by the Fontana Police Department in their efforts to provide holiday meals to as many families as possible during the giving season. The Exchange Club is also collecting new bicycles and toys to donate to families in need. Donations will be accepted from November 2 to December 1. For more information, please contact Don Lewis at (909) 829-8792.
Boys and Girls Club of Fontana
Terrie Schneider, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Fontana located at 7723 Almeria Avenue, invites residents and community leaders to donate new toys to the children served by the Fontana Club. Donations will be accepted from November 2 to December 17. The hundreds of youth that are served by the Boys and Girls Club will enjoy “Lunch with Santa” on Saturday, December 19 and receive a donated wrapped toy. To support this effort, contact Connie Avila at (909) 822-4988.
Fontana Area Chamber of Commerce
Chamber members are encouraged to donate food to the Fontana Chamber of Commerce (8491 Sierra Avenue), for Fontana’s families in need, from November 2 to November 21. To help put a smile on the face of a child, donation of unwrapped toys will also be accepted from November 2 - December 15. For more details, contact Elsie Hernandez at (909) 822-4433.
Fontana Police Department Programs
In 2008, over 300 families with children either living in Fontana or attending a Fontana Unified school were served by a variety of charitable programs sponsored by the Fontana Police Department.
Fontana Police Officers will escort 50 deserving children from low income families on a shopping spree with a $100 gift card. The Shop with a Cop event, made possible by Target and the Fontana Police Officers Association, will take place on Saturday, December 5 at Target on Summit Avenue in Fontana.
The Annual Bicycle Give-Away is scheduled for Thursday, December 10. This event at Jack Bulik Park provides 50 deserving children from low income families with a bicycle, donated by the Cycling Connection in Rancho Cucamonga, for the second year in a row.
“We believe that every child should experience the thrill of learning to ride a bicycle,” said Tom Tisler, general manager, Cycling Connection.
“The youth that receive these bikes are so happy and thankful for the gifts. When they realize they also receive a helmet, bike lock and bicycle license, they are overwhelmed with joy. We are thankful for the continued support of our partners and community members so we can continue to put smiles on the faces of our youth, year after year,” said Heather Howard, a policing technician for the Fontana Police Department.
The Fontana Santas program is scheduled for Saturday, December 19 and is a city-wide toy drive coordinated by the Police Department and volunteers. Partners of this event include the Fontana Unified School District (FUSD), FUSD Police, the Fontana Police Officers Association, local faith based organizations, and local service clubs. All donations received are distributed by police officers to the deserving families.
For more information on any of the Fontana Police Department charitable programs contact Heather Howard at (909) 350-7758.
