SACRAMENTO — Thanks to the generosity of California Apartment Association staff, more than a dozen foster children will experience a merrier Christmas this year.
Photos by Mike Nemeth
After loading a hand truck with gifts for foster children, Cara Layne makes sure everything is in order. Layne, CAA’s human resources administrator and senior accountant, spearheaded this year’s CAA toy drive for Sierra Forever Families.
CAA employees from throughout the state donated new gifts to children being served by Sierra Forever Families, an agency that helps place foster kids with permanent families.
The toy drive instantly transformed the CAA Christmas tree. Soon, it was trimmed with paper gingerbread men, each listing the name of a child, his or her age and two or three presents that would brighten the child’s holiday.
Employees plucked the miniature wish lists from the branches, and soon, the gingerbread men were gone. Within a couple weeks, the tree was surrounded by presents of all sorts, from a toy leaf blower that shoots bubbles to a George Foreman Grill to an electric drum set.
On Wednesday, Dec. 18, it was time to send the gifts on their way. CAA’s Cara Layne loaded two hand trucks with gift bags of presents and headed to the lobby.
Jennifer Highley, a social worker for Sierra Forever Families, pulled up in her Toyota, popped the hatch and began loading the car with care.
“We’ll see how many gifts can fit in the back of a Prius,” Highley said with cheer.