Holiday Toy Drive with The Love House Kids Program

Temple Kol Ami’s annual toy drive, held in partnership with The Love House Kids Program, is underway! Now thru December 11, TKA will collect new, unwrapped toys for kids of all ages from infant to 18 year old. The biggest need for gifts is in the 7 to 18 year old age range.

All are welcome to drop off toys in collection bins located inside the Temple Kol Ami lobby (15030 N 64th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85254)

The Love House (www.lovehousekidsprogram.org) is a local charity that helps kids who have been removed from homes due to abuse and neglect. The children who will benefit from our toy drive are disadvantaged or at risk. Some live in foster or state-run group homes; others may live with a relative. But each child receives just $300 a year to cover all of their material needs including shoes, clothes, school supplies–everything.

“These are kids who fall through the cracks and would otherwise have nothing at Christmas time. There’s no other group that’s going to provide for them. They don’t qualify for charities like Toys for Tots,” said Temple Kol Ami member and toy drive volunteer Danny Adelmann.

Some of the kids have never received a Christmas gift before.

“Kids in group homes don’t have choices, don’t get to share in love and caring and are alone. No matter how badly these kids were abused, we so want them to be able to be kids. It’s okay to be excited, it’s okay to dream. It also gives us an opportunity to tell them they are cared for and loved unconditionally,” said Love House Executive Director Maureen Karpinski.

Adelmann and Temple Kol Ami have been working with the Love House at Christmas time several years in a row. Adelmann is proud to share some of the many notes of thanks he’s received over the years:

“Jasmin has been carring around her HUGE teddy bear for the last few days. She put on her new Nike shoes and I don’t think she will ever take them off!”

“I don’t have enough words of gratitude. One look at one of those faces on Christmas morning says it all. Thank you for making this happen for these innocent victims of abusive people.”

“Kimberly was snuggled up on the couch today with her new Mickey Mouse blanket and was so excited to show it off, along with her new shoes.”

“This was the first Christmas they were able to experience the wonder and joy of waking up to run out to the living room and see a tree surrounded by presents, stockings filled, and warm cinnamon rolls for breakfast.”