The Long Beach domestic violence shelter Su Casa is asking community members to donate gift cards, items and funds for its holiday gift program.
“We are still in COVID protocol in our shelters,” said Dean Lockwood, director of development and community outreach. “We are asking donors to go to our website and go to the holiday gift drive page to donate gift cards, items from our Amazon wish list, or make a cash donation.”
People can make a monetary donation either online through Su Casa’s website or by mailing it in. Gift cards can also be mailed in. Gifts purchased through the Amazon wish list online will be sent to Su Casa.
Among the gifts on the online wish list are sippy cups, kitchen appliances, toiletries, bedding, underwear and more.
According to a statement by Su Casa, the organization provides domestic violence services, counseling, and shelter to more than 200 victims and their families each year.
The same statement said that many of the victims who arrive at the shelter have escaped a crisis situation, with only the clothes they have on.
According to the California Department of Justice, in 2020 there were 2,084 domestic violence related emergency calls for assistance made in Long Beach. Of these cases, 207 involved the use of a weapon, while 303 involved strangulation or suffocation.
“It is the hope that there are so many Shelter the Spirit donations that Su Casa can spread them across the entire year so that families who come to us in May feel the same spirit as those with us during the holidays, “ said executive director Anna Conti. “The look on a child’s face when they receive an unexpected gift is heartwarming, whether it is in December or July.”
Donations can be made at sucasadv.org or sent through the mail to Su Casa’s Walk In Resource Center, located at 3750 E. Anaheim St. For more information, call Su Casa at 562-421-6537.
