Gaydos in the Afternoon hosting Caring for Kids drive through Friday
Dec 3, 2019, 9:19 AM | Updated: Dec 4, 2019, 5:25 pm
PHOENIX — There are 14,000 children in Arizona’s foster care system, and many struggle to get access to basic necessities.
KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Gaydos in the Afternoon is aiming to help these kids with the show’s annual Caring for Kids collection drive presented by Canyon State Credit Union.
Through Friday, donations can be dropped off at any Valley Walgreens location or these Canyon State Credit Union locations:
- 1270 N. Dysart Road, Goodyear
- 3440 W. Deer Valley Road, Phoenix
- 2440 W. Osborn Road, Phoenix
The donations will benefit two groups: Child Crisis Arizona, which operates emergency shelters and trains foster families; and Arizona Helping Hands, which helps foster families who are providing homes for children in the state’s Department of Child Safety system.
It’s KTAR's 7th annual Caring for Kids Collection Drive, benefitting @AZHelpingHands & @ChildCrisisAriz
Please help the kids who have nothing this Christmas. Stop by any Valley Walgreens & drop something off in the Caring for Kids collection box. https://t.co/WchXQbvDk7
— Gaydos in the Afternoon on KTAR News 92.3 (@GaydosKTAR) November 30, 2019
Dan Shufelt, CEO of Arizona Helping Hands, told KTAR News’ Arizona’s Morning News on Tuesday that his organization works to help foster children thrive.
“We help out with things you would never even think about, with beds, and cribs and clothing and diapers, and personal care packages,” he said. “Even birthday gifts to let these kids know they’re special.”
The items on the groups’ wish list are:
- Toiletries
- Diapers – sizes 4, 5 and 6
- Baby wipes
- Boys and girls clothing
- Socks
- Bedding
- Toys
- Gas and retail gift cards
Only new items will be accepted.
Gaydos in the Afternoon will wrap up the drive Friday with a live broadcast from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. outside the Walgreens at McClintock Drive and Guadalupe Road in Tempe.
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Listeners who want to drop off their donations during the show can also meet special guests from the North Pole — Santa and Mrs. Claus — and take photos with them.
At the same time, KTAR News personalities will collect donations at the drugstore at Peoria and 59th avenues in Glendale.
Last year, the station piled up thousands of items, including more than 250,000 diapers.
Find more information about this year’s Caring for Kids collection drive here.
