PHOENIX – This past Saturday the Scott Foundation found a way to make thousands of Arizona’s foster children happy at the holidays and all year long. Operation Toy Box began packing 100 toy boxes with approximately 1,000 donated toys to be delivered to Arizona Department of Child Safety offices around the state in early December.
On Saturday, November 12, 2016 volunteers from all walks of life showed up to share their time and effort to make this mission a reality. Every packed box includes a personal note written by a child who has experienced foster care. The notes share stories of hope, courage and inspiration based on the children’s own experiences to help ease the fears of new children in the foster system. Each of the 100 toy boxes contain nearly 100 toys, with each toy box valued at $2,500 or more. The Scott Foundation hopes to keep these toy boxes filled year-round.
The Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) is deeply grateful to the Scott Foundation and their partners for their collaborative efforts to make life for foster children a little easier. Sponsors of Operation Toy Box include Dircks Moving & Logistics, the Maag Toy Foundation, United Healthcare, Target, Pillow Pets and 3rdStory Architecture.
The Arizona Department of Child Safety would like to thank Colleen Walski, CEO of the Scott Foundation, for identifying a unique way to help children in Arizona’s foster system. There are currently over 18,000 children in foster care, and community engagement is vital to helping provide comfort and care. Foster and adoptive families are needed, volunteers, mentors – everyone can do something to ensure a bright future for Arizona’s most vulnerable children.
