By Lillian BOODAGHIANS

On Saturday, the Crescenta-Cañada Lions Club welcomed donors to its annual “Kases for Kids” donation drive. Trucks and minivans loaded with backpacks, suitcases, stuffed toys, and toiletries lined the Ralphs parking lot on Foothill Boulevard in La Crescenta where the temporary drop off center was located.

The backpacks and other items collected will be given to children in the transitional stages of foster care.

People stopped by throughout the day to show their support, donating new luggage and school supplies. State Assemblyman Mike Gatto also made a surprise appearance to contribute to the over 100 cases and thousands of units of toiletries collected.

This weekend, the donations will be taken to the Reseda Women’s Club to be assembled into backpack care packages. The Los Angeles Department of Children Services will then pick up the cases so they can be given to children when the need arises.

Art Rinaman, president of the Crescenta-Cañada Lions Club, said that combined with the donations made from other Lions clubs in the district, enough supplies were collected this year to give backpacks to more than 400 children filled with everything from notebooks to shampoo and stuffed animals.

  Lillian BOODAGHIANS