EngAGE Program Director and Road Theatre member Elizabeth Sampson leads a major toy drive annually for the kids at Vermont Family Apartments in Los Angeles, CA. Elizabeth explains:
“I’ve managed to do this for nine years, raising from $600 the first year, to $1300 this year. It has allowed me to get nicer and nicer toys. This year Marshall’s had a whole bunch of FAO Schwartz toys and I was so excited for Santa to give those out.
“My friends at the Road have turned this into a company-wide event that we take a lot of pride in. I start raising money at the company meetings in November and December, set up a Paypal account that they can donate into. Road members and our Artistic Director Taylor Gilbert all donate generously.
“Road member Keelia Flinn, has a Dojo (martial arts studio) in Studio City. She sets up a ‘Giving Tree’ in the corner. She puts tags on the tree, each with a Vermont kid’s ages and gender. Her young students take a tag from the tree and return with a gift attached to the tag. These kids (and parents) have been very generous for the last two years.
“Because we raised more this year, I attached all seventeen $20 Target gift tags that go to the teen-agers, to a bag of Moose Munch with a bow — more fun to get from Santa.
“I make probably four trips to Marshall’s altogether, making sure that each child is covered with a gift. There were 70 on the list this year.
“Lisa at NoHo Senior Arts Colony in North Hollywood, CA, was very helpful, providing refreshments for the wrappers at the Wrapping Party (five Road company members and four NoHo residents) yesterday. So big shout out to her.”
EngAGE gives a big shout out to Elizabeth and her group of supporters who make the holiday at Vermont Family Apartments very special every year! You’ll see pictures from the Vermont party tomorrow.
The North Hollywood Senior Arts Colony is a Meta Housing Corporation community, managed by Legacy Partners.
