Here is a note Pat Tallman asked me to send along. I know it has
been a very trying year for a lot of people, but if you can help the
kids at Penny Lane, it would be wonderful.

Dear Santas!

It's that time again. What a year! The kids are excited and all of
the elves around here have started to pull it together. We are doing
a simplified version this year. We know many folks gave to the
Hurricane Victims funds (Good Job!) and we know our funds will be
challenged. (We learned from 9/11.)

What we are going to do is give the kids exactly what they want or
need...a gift card to all the malls around their area. That way they
can take care of their heart's desire. We will prepare beautiful and
fun holiday bags filled with a stuffed animal, books, candy ...you
know, the stuff that makes the holidays so fabulous for kids!
The kids are writing holiday cards to the victims & families who
have suffered from the hurricanes. Who better to understand how
devastating loosing your home and even loved ones than children who
have been victimized by violence their whole lives?

They understand that we may not have as much to distribute this
year. I'll divide up the money that does come in amongst the 104
kids. It will be a wonderful thing!

Please visit the What We Need page on our site www.beasanta.org,that
stuff still applies. Write a card from you to a child. It means so
much. The kids will still have gifts to open. In addition, each
house and caseload will have a party thrown just for them, and I'll
purchase a movie of their choice for the houses to keep. We'll also
help decorate, and we'll be finding each house something special as
a group gift.

So you see we still have our work cut out for us! And we cannot do
it without you! Please e-mail us and send in your donations asap. We
are so grateful to have generous angels in our world like you.
I look forward to hearing from you,

Pat

Things I especially need: I need a lot of Christmas cards for the
kids to write their notes, thank yous ect. Stuffed animals! I need
104 of these! Medium sized, favorite characters are very popular
such as: Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Tweety, Taz , Mickie and Minnie,
Blue's Clues and Sponge Bob. Books… Harry Potter, teen series books,
Black writers, Poetry, Comics ect.

Cash Donations: I know gift cards have been such an easy way to send
a gift but this year I'll be getting the kids a gift card that's
good to ANY store in the malls in their area. If I may be so brash,
could you send us a monetary donation instead so I may buy the 104
gift cards this year? I would really appreciate it! Credit cards can
be accepted, email us for info- plbeasanta@...
www.beasanta.org 6433 Topanga Canyon Blvd. #207 Canoga Park, CA
91367

Every Child has a wish for the Holidays!

Penny Lane is a family treatment center that cares for the most
difficult to manage children with the highest quality care. These
kids have been so sexually, emotionally and physically abused, they
cannot be placed in regular foster care. We have children from all
over California, Nevada and Arizona. The Be A Santa program focuses
on the 104 teens in residence in the North Hills main facility and 9
satellite houses. Penny Lane also services over 900 young children
in foster care. The Be A Santa program frees up resources for them.
"I'd like to thank all who's helping Penny Lane kids out. I have
been here almost 5 years and you help out a lot of people that come
and that left. You have been the biggest inspiration in my life when
I am in PL so thanks for what you have done and I just hope that you
keep doing what you are doing." Boy age 18

I ask the kids to give me a list of things they wish for, and to
tell me a little about themselves. Some are very eloquent:

"I have been in placement for a long time now. But this is my first
time not being with my family on Christmas . I never got nothing on
that day from them anyway, so I hope to have a good one here with
people that care about me. I would like to say thank you for every
thing that you guys are doing for the kids in Penny lane. We are all
thankful.

God bless you all on Christmas day." Girl age 15

"I care about N.A. and being here ( in PL) getting help with some
problems I have. I care for my family. What I want for Christmas I
can't get because it won't happen but one of these days it will and
I will be free. Thanks for asking." Girl age 16

"I care about my family and I will do anything for them, and that
is why I'm in PL. Thank you for everything" Boy age 15

"The number #1 thing I care about is my daughter. The only thing I
really want is for my daughter to have a good Christmas! I really
don't feel I deserve nothing." Girl age 17

"I never had a Christmas because my parents never had any money to
buy us anything. But my parents aren't around anymore and I am a
real grateful person for anything that is given to me. And I thank
God every day to have people like you, important people, in this
world. So I just want to thank you all for giving all of these gifts
that my parents couldn't give me. And being real helpful to us girls
in Penny Lane. You've shown me what Christmas is all about." Girl
age 18

Even though the children at Penny Lane are there because their
families have failed them in some fundamental way, the kids wish
lists so often include the same cry for love:

"My wish is to go home to my family because without them I would be
lost." Girl,14

"If I could have one gift, that would be for my mother and me to get
along." Girl,15

"I am not in the Christmas spirit. I am not with the people I love.
The only thing I want would be something that came from the heart. I
don't care what it is."- Girl ,17

"If you want to find a nice gift for me, find my sister. Her name
is…"- Boy, 16

The children at Penny Lane get something more precious that they can
imagine, more valuable than they know. Not just the hard working,
dedicated staff at Penny Lane, they get the love of the people who
help from the heart with this project. Please remember the children
of Penny Lane this Holiday. Thank you…..from the heart!

Pat Tallman
http://www.beasanta.org
Be A Santa for a Penny Lane Child this holiday season!

Thanks for your help.
Sandy

Sandra Bruckner
Editor/Publisher
ISN News: The Zocalo Today
http://www.isnnews.net