By Khalida Sarwari
Following a grocery bag giveaway in which dozens were turned away after food supplies ran out, Glide Memorial United Methodist Church volunteers and staff want to make sure they have enough toys for a toy giveaway next week.
Associates from Macy’s will join volunteers to hand out anywhere from 6,000 to 10,000 toys to children up to 15 years old on Monday. Toys will include bikes, books, basketballs and stuffed animals.
Glide, which been collecting toys throughout the year, is continuing to take donations for toys that are unused and still in their original box.
Glide spokeswoman Denise Lamott said another shortage on Monday would not be surprising, given the impact of the economic crisis this year.
On Tuesday the church gave away 6,000 grocery bags containing either a frozen chicken or turkey along with a loaf of bread, pasta and various canned vegetable and fruit items. Glide called for an additional 1,200 bags of frozen chicken, but as many as 100 people had to be turned
away.
Lamott said not all the people who drop by the church are homeless.
“We are seeing people that do not look like the typical homeless,” Lamott said. “They are working people, people that are newly unemployed or making ends meet.”
Monday’s toy giveaway will especially help out parents and provide an opportunity for children to receive three or four brand-new toys they might not otherwise get, Lamott said.
“Glide is there for them to get what they need,” Lamott said.
Glide is accepting food and toy donations at the church, located at 330 Ellis St. in San Francisco. Monetary donations can be made online at http://www.glide.org.
Glide Memorial is also inviting members of the public to attend its annual holiday festival, “Celebrate Home.” The event is scheduled for 7 p.m. today at the Hilton San Francisco at 333 O’Farrell St. and will feature keynote speaker U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
Tickets are available online on Glide’s Web site or by calling (415) 674-6117.
