HHSA Staff Collect 2K Plus Items for Children in Need

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When employees were gathering data for a special project on the Central and South Regions of the County Health and Human Services Agency, they discovered that about 6,000 children in the San Diego Unified School District are either experiencing homelessness or without a stable place to live.

The children needed basic items such as soap, shampoo, socks, shoes without holes, blankets and hygiene items. Employees from those regions decided to do something about it.

The staff started a donation drive to give children in need an early holiday present.

Employees from Child Welfare Services, Public Health Centers, Family Resource Centers and other programs donated clothing, toiletries, socks and undergarments, as well as paper, pencils, crayons and other school supplies. A box was placed at each office with a request to employees to give what they could.

Employees donated that and more. They also brought in stuffed animals, backpacks, coloring books, water bottles and food.

Some of the items donated, included:

  • 500 toiletry items or packs of shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes and soap and body wash.

  • 1,400 school supplies such pens, paper, pencils, glue and crayons.

  • 200 comfort items including shoes and socks, jackets and sweaters.

“There was overwhelming support and donations. The drive was a tremendous success and will help many children in need” said Dijana Beck, acting deputy director for HHSA’s Central and South Regions. “If we can make a difference in the life of one child, it’s a success.”

The donated items were turned over to the San Diego Unified School District to distribute the items to those in need.