La Cañada Presbyterian Church’s Parent Education Program (LCPC Parent Ed) recently hosted donation collections and events supporting its local mission partner FosterAll. To celebrate the holiday together and show appreciation to foster families who have opened up their hearts and homes to children in need, LCPC Parent Ed held a Christmas toy drive from Nov. 13-29, collecting new toys for boys and girls aged 5-10. Answering the call, LCPC parishioners and Parent Ed participants donated 200 toys and $1,015 for the toy drive for children in family and group homes.

Then, on Dec. 2, the LCPC campus was transformed into a winter wonderland for foster families to enjoy a fun-filled day that included games, crafts, music, entertainment, hot cocoa bar, delicious meal and Santa’s Toy Shop. Children were invited to take books from Santa’s library, shop in Santa’s Toy Shop and take a photo with Santa Claus himself. Families were treated to free family photos with a professional photographer. LCPC Parent Ed board members provided support for the event.

FosterAll’s Kathy Hernandez organized the successful event with help from volunteers from many churches including La Cañada Presbyterian Church. Parent Ed’s Amanda Baughman organized the toy drive, Carrie Kingston and her children assisted, Willow Baughman photographed the event and Lauren Gallidoro provided balloon decorations. LCPC Senior Pastor Ross Purdy welcomed families onto the campus, praying over the meal and the day.