Good Samaritan Shelter begins annual holiday toy drive benefiting kids in need

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Good Samaritan Shelter has kicked off its annual holiday toy drive to benefit children who are clients of the Santa Barbara County-based non-profit organization.

"We've definitely seen an increased need for families in our community," said Kirsten Cahoon, Good Samaritan Shelter Director of Shelter Operatins. "We've seen families coming in in droves over the last six to eight months. We have over 80 kids here on our Santa Maria shelter campus, and in total, about 150 kids that we have to provide Christmas for and make sure that they know that Santa still visits them no matter where they're at, even if that means here in a homeless shelter."

The ongoing event concludes this Tuesday, Dec. 19 with an all-day collection drive that will be held at Stowasser Buick GMC in Santa Maria from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

"They can drop it off at a barrel location or they can join us will be at Stowassers on December 19th," said Cahoon. "Santa Claus will be there and we will be having treats for the kids, and it would be great to have folks come out and drop off toys on that day, or they can hit one of our barrel locations prior to the event."

Donation barrels can be found at Stowasser Buick GMC in Santa Maria, participating Santa Maria Starbucks locations, Pizzeria Bello Forno in Orcutt, Salon Renew in Orcutt and Sandy's Registration Service in Santa Maria.

Good Samaritan is asking for unwrapped toys, clothes or other basic necessities for kids of all ages.

"We're looking for anything," said Cahoon. "We do have quite a few teenagers this year, and that tends to be be the kids that are the hardest to provide Christmas for. We get a lot of toys donated, but sometimes the teenagers become a challenge, so they always love these, and are a great idea to donate for our teenagers. We also have quite a few newborns, so baby toys are another one that we have a great need for this year. We just we appreciate any donation. We take all of the donations and create a toy store here at the shelter that all of our parents can come and actually shop for their kids, so they get to pick out the toys, and they get to wrap them and get to be the ones giving them."

For more information about Good Samaritan Shelter, click here.