As of 2 p.m. on Thursday, we've got about 500 balls for the Harbor Area Boys & Girls Clubs through our 10th annual Ball Drive. Last year, we had 2,500.
Yesterday, I emailed Antonio Prieto, the site director for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor to let him know things were looking a little shaky this year.
"The reality is that the gift that the children receive may be the only one they get for Christmas. And to see them wide eyed and excited about a ball they got for Christmas is priceless," Prieto wrote. He says his programs serve about 1,400 kids.
So, I'm hoping we get at least 1,400 balls so no one goes away empty-handed.
We just helped unload about 300 balls donated by the City of Lomita. Yesterday, 50 balls were donated by NFL linebacker Keith Ellison, who went to Redondo Union High School. And I met a 10-year-old who asked his birthday party guests to bring balls to donate in lieu of gifts for himself.
If you'd like to help, there are just two days left to donate. Balls may be dropped at the Daily Breeze lobby Friday and Monday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Prieto says the kids especially like basketballs, footballs and handballs.
And, in case you didn't know, our office has moved. The Daily Breeze is now located at 21250 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 170, in Torrance, just south of the Borders bookstore. The balls go to Harbor Area Boys and Girls clubs.
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