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Dear Inspiring People,
I am reaching out to ask you for some help for the Penny Lane kids. I volunteer for the Penny Lane Home for Children. I created a program for them 11 years ago called “Be A Santa.” 
Penny Lane has 104 teenagers who have been so sexually, emotional and physically abused they cannot be placed in regular foster care. Their trauma is such they are not capable of being placed in a home. Penny Lane has taken these kids in and given them a safe place to recover, be cared for, treated and educated.
Penny Lane was started in the 1960′s by a remarkable woman named Evalise Markovitz. She’s a good friend of mine today, I am blessed to say. Penny Lane, like many worthy places in these times, faces desperate challenges to keep the doors open, much less provide the kids with Holiday gifts. Here’s where we come in.
The Be A Santa program makes the holidays happen for the 104 teens in residence in the San Fernando Valley. We get teens from all over. The main residence and group homes are here in the Valley. I gather funds and donations and make each teen a gift bag full of stocking stuffers and a gift card to the Westfield Mall, good for any store. We put trees in the homes and provide funds for Holiday parties and dinners. It takes about $15,000 to make it happen. I can take donations all year.
Every year, it is so thrilling to see these tough kids light up when they get their bag of goodies handed to them from Santa! It’s just amazing to see that something so minor for us can make such an impact. Because of the economy, I know I am faced with a huge challenge this year. I am asking you to help me in any way you see fit. I can send you a list of items I need and of course we need money.
Please pass this on to other folks who could help. Everyone coming together for these kids is what the season is all about. No matter where you are from or what you believe, helping kids is a blessing for all of us.
Thanks so much for being who you are! You are an angel for these kids!
