Wishes give chances

By Jennifer Umaña
Daily Forty-Niner

Many of the women and children who find refuge in shelters for victims of family violence bring with them little more than the bare essentials.

This is where the Cal State Long Beach Women's Resource Center comes in with help in the form of the "Fulfilling Wishes" project.

Volunteers of the project help to gather personal items and toys for women and children who live in these types of shelters in Long Beach.

"A lot of them come with nothing – pretty much just a suitcase," said center volunteer Cayt Benson.

The items they collect for the project are "feel-good things for these women – to spoil themselves with," Benson said.

The center is asking for donations of personal items for women, such as scented soaps, hair adornments and jewelry. For the children, toys, crayons, books and puzzles are requested.

Clothes in good condition are needed for both the women and the children.

The center accepts donations year-round. This time they will be accepting the latest donations until 4:30 p.m. Friday, October 27, when they will deliver them to the shelters. Donations will be accepted at the center located at LA-3 105.