Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Stuff-a-Bus Holiday Toy Drive


Via www.avta.com
Lancaster – The Antelope Valley Transit Authority's (AVTA) all-electric bus is set to star in the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce "A Hollywood Christmas" parade on Saturday, December 3. The parade is the roll out for the transit agency's annual Stuff-a-Bus holiday Toy Drive, with the goal of collecting enough new unwrapped toys, clothing and gifts to completely fill up the 40-foot bus. The specially decorated, zero-emissions bus will be making stops at several locations across the Antelope Valley in December to receive donations. AVTA works with several charitable organizations here in the Antelope Valley, who will receive and distribute all of the toys and gifts collected to underprivileged children in our community.
AVTA is also pleased to have fantastic support from the local business community for this year's Stuff-aBus Holiday Toy Drive. Major contributors include Walmart, BYD, High Desert Medical Group, Lancaster Jethawks, OpSec Security and Transdev, along with the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale. To say thank you, AVTA will feature their logos on the Electric Stuff-a-Bus. For a complete list of all Stuff-a-Bus sponsors, please visit www.avta.com.
"AVTA is committed to partnering with the community each holiday season, bringing joy to those in need," said Board Chairman Marvin Crist. "The key to our success is our staff, volunteers, local residents and sponsors, all working together with the goal of helping kids." AVTA's Stuff-a-Bus has a busy schedule in December. The bus will appear in both the Lancaster and Palmdale Christmas parades, and will also provide four opportunities for people to donate new unwrapped toys and gifts. Festive volunteers ringing bells and chanting "Stuff That Bus!" will be at the Antelope Valley Mall in Palmdale from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 3, immediately following the Lancaster holiday parade. Donations will also be collected on Sunday, December 4, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the West Palmdale Walmart on 10th Street West near Avenue O. On Saturday, December 10, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., the Stuff-A-Bus will take part in "A Magical BLVD Christmas" on Lancaster Blvd. and will be ready and waiting for donations. The final opportunity to help "Stuff That Bus!" will be on Sunday, December 11th, at the West Lancaster Walmart on Valley Central Way, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
"This is the perfect time of year to bring the magic of the holidays to others," said AVTA Executive Director Len Engel. "We provide a service to the community every day, but the holidays are when we try to do something special for those who need it most. It's AVTA's way of promoting goodwill and caring within the community."
The AVTA Stuff-a-Bus was started over 20 years ago as a way for the agency to help less fortunate children and families in the community during the holidays. This year's event will benefit families from Grace Resource Center, the Children's Center of the Antelope Valley, the South Antelope Valley Emergency Services (SAVES), the Child and Family Guidance Center, the Children's Bureau of the Antelope Valley, and the Marco & Sandra Johnson Foundation.
AVTA provides local, commuter and dial-a-ride service to a population of more than 450,000 residents in the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale as well as the unincorporated portions of northern Los Angeles County. Its total service area covers 1,200 square miles and it is bounded by the Kern County line to the north, the San Bernardino County line to the east, the Angeles National Forest to the south, and Interstate 5 to the West. 

Friday, October 28, 2016

10th Annual Caring for the Community





Lancaster, CA - Help us celebrate 10-years of assisting children, families and individuals in need in the Antelope Valley.

The Marco and Sandra Johnson Foundation and the University of Antelope Valley continue to show their commitment to our community by hosting its 10th Annual “Caring for the Community” event on Saturday, December 10, 2016, at the UAV Sierra Highway campus.

The year was 2007. George W. Bush was president, California Discovery takes off for a 14-day mission to the International Space Station, Al Gore received the Nobel Peace Prize, BeyoncĂ© Knowles' "Irreplaceable" was the best-performing single of the year — and the Oscar goes to: The Departed.

On a cold 2007 December morning, during the Lancaster Christmas Parade, Marco and Sandra Johnson and their two children were walking up and down Lancaster Blvd. passing out flyers inviting anyone who needed a hot holiday meal and a toys for their small children to join them at the university. Marco and other UAV staff drove vans to a homeless shelter and offered rides to anyone interested.

Beginnings were humble, approximately 20-30 people were served the first year, food was left uneaten and toys left unwrapped. Year-after-year word spread, “The food is delicious, service is outstanding and Santa is always there.”

Last year, 2015, the foundation, UAV staff and employees and volunteers served a holiday meal with all the trimmings to over 2,000 attendees and more than 2,500 toys distributed as well as much needed warm clothing. “It was a wonderful day all around, but the most memorable part for me was seeing the joy on the faces of the parents and their children, as they sat with Santa and received gifts,” stated UAV Banquet Manager Pam Mazor. “Whether it was a doll or a bike, the way the children’s eyes lit up was so inspiring, and I think we all walked away that day feeling the true holiday spirit.”

The Caring for the Community annual meal service and toy/clothing distribution has exceeded all expectations. The community rose to the occasion, more than 100 volunteers enlisted and approximately 550 articles of clothing including jackets, jeans, hats, gloves, blankets, socks and other winter wear was donated for families in need.

How Can You Help?

Catering to the needs of our community is an extensive undertaking that would not succeed were it not for the support of city leaders, LA County Sheriff, California Highway Patrol, Wal-Mart, members of our community and local businesses coming together to help make this event possible.

UAV is accepting donations of new or very gently worn and freshly cleaned winter coats, blankets and accessories, un-opened toys and non-perishable food items. Please deliver to the UAV campus front lobby until December 9, 2016.

University of Antelope Valley
44055 N. Sierra Highway
Lancaster, CA 93534

Those interested in volunteering time, please contact Ashley Clutter or Laura Bishop at (661) 726-1911 x126 or via email at caring@uav.edu