Donating a new, unwrapped gift for a local foster child this holiday season could win you a fabulous gift of your own — a brand new Kindle Fire HD e-tablet from Amazon.
Sleep Train Mattress Center's annual Secret Santa Toy Drive is happening now through Dec. 16. Each year, the drive collects new, unwrapped gifts to help make the holidays brighter for California foster children.
"Foster children live in an uncertain world, where moving into a new home can happen anytime - even around the holidays," said Shauna Nuckles, media spokeswoman for the drive. "Often forced to tearfully leave behind their toys, friends, and even their clothing, a present on Christmas morning means the world to these kids, who seldom get anything brand new."
This year, Sleep Train has decided to sweeten the deal for people who donate to the drive, and give away a Kindle Fire HD e-tablet, plus a pair of Tempur-Pedic slippers to one lucky donor.
To enter, one must "like" Sleep Train's Facebook page. Then, have someone snap a zany, creative photo of you dropping off your donation of a new, unwrapped gift to the Sleep Train store location of your choice, and upload the photo to the Facebook page.
Then, the voting begins! Have your friends, familly, co-workers and neighbors vote for your photo. The lucky donor with the most votes wins the Kindle Fire.
Not sure what to donate? Sleep Train has asked foster agencies from all over the state what their children's biggest wishes are for this Christmas. Here are the most common answers:
Boys: Legos, Star Wars toys, action heroes, sports equipment (footballs, soccer balls, basketballs, baseball equipment, etc.), movies, music players and headphones (iPods, mp3 players, etc.).
Girls: Clothing, hair and fashion hair accessories (scarves, gloves, barrettes, etc.), make-up (lip gloss, nail polish, etc.), diaries or journals, multi-ethnic dolls, books, arts and crafts sets.
All Children: Gift cards, board games (Monopoly, Sorry, Candy Land, etc.).
Young Children: Stacking cups or blocks, cars and trucks, play kitchen/cooking supplies, electronic learning toys (like LeapFrog and V-Tech), ride-on toys.
Gifts should be new and unwrapped, and can be dropped off at any Sleep Train location, such as the one in Milpitas at 187 Ranch Dr.
For more information, visit the Sleep Train Facebook page and click on the "Santa Contest" tab.
