FREMONT, CA: While holidays are a season for everyone to cheer, celebrate and be thankful, not everyone is that fortunate. Holidays joy is derived as much in celebrating as in bringing smile on faces of others who are in need. This year Festival of Globe (FOG) and Fremont Hindu Temple led the initiative to spread the joy and continuing the giving tradition and in spirit of holidays, organized a “Holiday Toy Drive”.
On Sunday, December 18, Toy Giveaway was held to distribute toys to needy children including incarcerated youth and destitute kids. Alameda county juvenile justice system has many such children in its system. There is a strong felt need to give a little bit of cheer and joy to these kids during the holiday season.
There was tremendous response to FOG’s appeal to community. Thanking the community’s participation, Dr. Romesh Japra, Founder and Convener – FOG, said, “Over the years, FOG has taken pride in making holidays a wonderful time for all parts of community.
This year Toy Drive has a special significance as we are living in the times where community is getting more stratified and it is incumbent on all of us to ensure that every part of our society gets involved and feels cared for.”
At FOG Holiday Toy Drive, many boxes of toys were collected to be delivered to the needy. Assemblyman Kansen Chu, Fremont Mayor Lily Mei, Chief of Probation of Alameda County Wendy Still, Oakland Unite Coordinator Hattie Tate, Public Health Supervisor Prof. Erica Arana, Director Oakland Unified School District Manisha Patel, Commissioner Kamal Nair and other local leaders participated in the drive. FOG team members Rajesh Verma, Manorama Joshi, Deepak Chhabra, Ritu Maheshwari, Kamal Sahaney, Manali Brambhatt, Raj Joshi, Ashok Kapoor, Neena Kapoor, Keshab Chopra and others were also present at the Toy Giveaway event.
FOG spearheads community events that benefit local charities and people in need. Throughout the year, FOG has multitude of initiatives that champion social causes and leave an indelible stamp of support on the community.
India Post News Service
