HELP SPREAD HOLIDAY CHEER IN SANTA CLARITA.

Byline: Posted by Sharon Cotal valleynews.com user

Many people want to help those who are less fortunate during the holiday season, but just don't know how. Here are some opportunities to help others in the Santa Clarita Valley.

America's Lending Group: This local company is collecting non-perishable food items, unwrapped toys and recyclable beverage containers from noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 2 at 26635 Valley Center Drive, Santa Clarita. The donations will benefit the Hunger Defense Fund, Jaycee's Santa's Helpers Toy Drive and Mac's Project (recycling to win the battle against children's cancer).The first 200 vehicles will receive a commemorative thank you card. Those who donate to all three charities will be entered in a drawing to win prizes. Call [phone].

Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital: Those who attend the 20th annual Community Tree Lighting from 2 to 5 p.m.Dec. 3 at the hospital are invited to give to the Gift of Life program, in which donors help decorate the holiday tree with symbolic contributions from $15 to $1,000 toward multi-colored ornaments in honor or in memory of friends or loved ones. All donations will benefit parient care services at Newhall Memorial. Call the hospital Foundation at [phone].

Barnes & Noble: Select a gift tag from the Holiday Book Drive display and choose any book appropriate for the child described on the tag. The books will be donated to Camp Scott and Camp Scudder, juvenile probation camps in the Santa Clarita Valley. Deadline to donate: Dec. 31. Call [phone].

Castaic Lions Club: The 17th annual Christmas Float will bring Santa to various neighborhoods throughout Castaic from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 2 through 11. At each visit, the Lions Club will be accepting canned food donations for needy Castaic and Val Verde families. The float will visit Double C Ranch/Hidden Lake on Dec. 2; North Lake/Stonegate on Dec. 3; Violin Apt./RV Park/Lake Hills/Tobiah/Meadowood on Dec. 4; Bravo/Encore/Marigold/Country Village on Dec. 5; Hillcrest Park North on Dec. 6; Hillcrest Park South on Dec. 7; North Buff/Hasley Hills East on Dec. 8; Hasley Hills West/All Live Oak on Dec. 10; and Hasley Canyon/Val Verde Park on Dec. 11. For information about float routes, call Century 21 Americas at [phone].

Southern California firefighters: The Holiday Toy Express will pull into the Newhall Metrolink Station at 8:25 p.m. Dec. 8 to collect unwrapped toys on behalf of the Spark of Love Toy Drive. Toys collected will be distributed to local children. The train, decorated with 50,000 sparkling lights and carrying Santa and his helpers, will host entertainment for families who turn out to participate in the drive. For information, call [phone] or visit www.metrolinktrains.com/holidayexpress.

Santa Clarita Society of St. Vincent de Paul Cenference: This group of year-round volunteers is seeking grocery store gift cards to make this holiday a memorable one for 104 local families. Donations are being accepted through Dec. 15 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 23233 Lyons Ave., Newhall. Please specify that the donation is for St. Vincent de Paul when dropping it off. Sponsors are also needed to buy gifts for children and families for the holidays. For information, call [phone].

Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station: The sheriff's station is conducting its annual Toy Drive to collect new, unwrapped toys for needy children living in the Santa Clarita Valley area. Toys can be dropped off at the sheriff's station, 23740 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia, or at participating businesses through Dec. 17. For information, call Dep. Laurie Baylis at [phone].

Michael Hoefflin Foundation for Children's Cancer: This organization is in need of gift cards to put in holiday baskets - or to be distributed throughout the year - to families who have a child with cancer. Gift cards of all denominations and vendors (including gas and groceries) are welcome. Gift cards can be mailed or delivered to the Michael Hoefflin Foundation for Children's Cancer, 26470 Ruether Ave., Unit 101, Santa Clarita, 91350. For information, call [phone].

S.C.V.-Newhall Optimist Club: This is the 19th year for the Optimist Club's Toy and Food Drive. Decorated boxes bearing the club name have been placed at local retail outlets as receptacles for nonperishable foods and unwrapped toys. Donations of turkeys and gift certificates are also needed. To donate a perishable item, make a cash donation or learn receptacle locations, call Dee Gadbury at [phone]. Monetary donations can also be made payable to ``SCV-Newhall Optimist Club'' and mailed to P.O. Box 1446, Canyon Country, 91351.

SCV Senior Center: The Senior Center has begun its annual ``10 Bucks to a Better Future'' campaign, which asks all Santa Clarita residents to contribute a minimum of $10 yearly to assure the Center will be available to meet every resident's needs. Checks made payable to ``SCVSC Annual Campaign'' can be dropped off at or mailed to the SCV Senior Center, 22900 Market St., Newhall, 91321, through February. For information, call [phone].

Six Flags Magic Mountain: The Valencia theme park is offering free admission to anyone bringing a new, unwrapped toy valued at $15 or more on Dec. 3, 9 and 10. All toys collected during the three-day event will be distributed by UPS to thousands of children at Boys & Girls Clubs across Southern California. A receipt or price tag on the toy is required. For information, call [phone].

Santa Clarita Valley Jaycees: Members of the local Jaycees have placed boxes in businesses encouraging people to donate new, unwrapped toys for children of all ages through Dec. 10 as part of the 8th annual Santa's Helper project. The gifts will be presented to selected children from the Single Mother's Outreach, Ragdoll Foundation and children with a military parent serving overseas. For information, or to make a cash donation, call Diane Stacy at [phone].

Automobile Association of Southern California: The Santa Clarita Auto Club office, 23770 Valencia Blvd., Valencia, is accepting donations of toys and cash through the end of the year to benefit Southern California children with severe and life-threatening illnesses. Those who donate $6 or more will receive a plush stuffed animal. For information, call Kelly Clark at [phone].

Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry: The Food Pantry is collecting grocery store gift cards so that needy families can purchase the food necessary for a traditional holiday meal. The goal is to collect enough gift cards to provide $10 per family member. Mail gift cards to, or drop them off at, 24133 Railroad Ave., Newhall, CA, 91321. For information, call Belinda Crawford at 9661) 255-9078.

If your organization has a project designed to help the needy during the holiday season and you would like it to be added to this list, contact Sharon Cotal at [phone], fax her at [phone], e-mail her at [e-mail] or write to her at 24800 Ave. Rockefeller, Valencia, CA, 91355.