How to Support the Unaccompanied Children at the Pomona Fairplex Emergency Intake Site

Press release from the City of Walnut:

06/01/2021 7:48 AM

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Dear Friends,

Since I first announced the Pomona Fairplex would be serving as an Emergency Intake Site for unaccompanied children, the community response has been overwhelming in the best of ways. We have had community members, local organizations and a host of other residents across the County reach out to my office and offer everything from donations, volunteer time, resources, and more to ensure the children arriving at the site are met with a safe and welcoming environment.

It gives me tremendous joy to see LA County's community values come to life during this humanitarian crisis. I can assure you that on my part, I remain committed to ensuring that every child receives the care and support they need to be successfully reunited with a family or sponsor.
Since its opening, I have conducted a number of visits with elected officials, my staff and most recently, with musical guests MC Magic, Frankie J, Baby Bash and many others thanks to Danny Trejo!

To that end, I am thrilled to share that Team Hope at the Pomona Fairplex has now unveiled a long-awaited volunteer/donation portal! Thank you to our residents for your continued support and for welcoming the children with open arms into our beautiful County.

Sincerely,
Chair Hilda L. Solis
Supervisor, First District

How to Support

VOLUNTEERING

Thank you for interest in volunteering at the Fairplex Emergency Intake Site. As you may know, the site is being operated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. To protect the safety of the children, HHS has in place a set of parameters around who can enter the site and interact with the children. As a result, there are no direct volunteer opportunities to interact with the children.

Still, we need you! If you would like to volunteer, volunteers will be needed to accept, sort and organize donated items to create reunification bags for when children are paired with a family member or sponsor. Please complete the volunteer interest form and you will be contacted once volunteer opportunities are open. (Please note, volunteers must be at least 16 years of age.)

FILL OUT VOLUNTEER INTEREST FORM

MONETARY DONATIONS

At this time, the best way to support the children is with a donation made to the Pomona Community Foundation – Esperanza Fund. The Esperanza Fund is being used to create reunification bags for children who are safely released to a family member, sponsor or transferred to an appropriate HHS shelter for longer-term care.

These bags contain items like gift cards to help them purchase essential supplies in their new homes, long-distance calling cards so they can keep in touch with relatives at home, and books and school supplies so they can stay engaged educationally.

Our partner Baby2Baby is also graciously donating items for these reunification bags. To donate to the Esperanza Fund, please click this visit: http://www.pomonacommunityfoundation.org.

Or mail a check to: Pomona Community Foundation Esperanza Fund 101 W. Mission Blvd., Ste. #110-201 Pomona, CA 91766.

Whether your donation is via online credit card or check, please make sure you note “Esperanza Fund” in the memo line.

MAKE A MONETARY DONATION

IN-KIND DONATIONS

Many community members have inquired about making in-kind donations. These items can be accepted within the parameters below. Items will be used to support the children as they are reunified with a family member, sponsor or transferred to an appropriate HHS shelter for longer-term care.

Things to Consider Before Donating:

The majority of children at this site range between 8 – 17 years old. Due to health and safety concerns, only new items will be accepted. Many of the children who are being reunited with their families will be travelling to their new homes, so the site will only be accepting the following essential, easily transportable items. This list will be updated as needs change:

• Visa, Amazon or similar gift cards (for household items)

• International phone cards

• Books – Spanish or Bilingual preferred

• Coloring and doodle books – including teen versions

• School supplies (Notepads, pens, etc.)

• English learning materials – books, flashcards, games

• Travel-size hygiene kits (toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, lotion)

• Travel-friendly games (card games, etc.)

• Feminine hygiene products

• Hairbrushes and combs

• Hair ties

• Socks and underwear

• Undershirts and bras

• Sweatshirts/hoodies (S – XL)

• Prepackaged snacks (trail mix, nuts, cookies, crackers, gum)

• Lightweight throw blankets

• Travel towels

(Items donated will be used to support the unaccompanied children at the Fairplex Emergency Intake Site, however, if items are unable to be used at this facility, they may be donated to another non-profit entity)

All individual or small batch donations can be dropped-off at the Pomona Economic Opportunity Center, 1682 West Mission Blvd, Pomona, CA 91766, during business hours, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8:30 – 10:30am.

Please complete the in-kind donation form below and attach it to your donations when you drop-off, please retain a copy for yourself. The in-kind donation form, serves as your donation receipt for tax purposes; it is the donor’s responsibility to determine the value of donated items.

FILL OUT IN-KIND DONATION FORM

LARGE QUANTITY IN-KIND DONATIONS

Business or organizations interested in providing large quantities of in-kind donation items are asked to email donations@pomonadaylabor.org.

SEND AN EMAIL

DONATION OF SERVICES

Organizations interested in providing complimentary services at the Fairplex Emergency Intake Site should complete an interest survey, which will be reviewed for consideration. After completing the interest survey please email info@fairplex.com with brief details on your in-kind service donation, so that Fairplex can help facilitate the request. Examples of services include:

• Entertainment (e.g. Acrobats, Dance Troupe, DJs, Karaoke, Magicians, Musicians)
• Art & crafts classes
• Comfort Dogs or Pets
• Personal Care Services (Barber/Beautician)

Due to the high volume of requests to support the Emergency Intake Site and for the privacy concerns for the children, we may not be able to accommodateall offers of support at this time, however, we thank you for your willingness to volunteer your time.

COMPLETE INTEREST SURVEY FORM

FOR EDUCATORS - LETTERS OF HOPE

Educators who wish to support the Fairplex Emergency Intake Site are encouraged to start a letter writing campaign in their classroom. Letters are a great way to educate students on the journey of migrant children and the challenges faced throughout the world. Letters can be written in English or Spanish on 8.5-by-11-inch paper, with appropriate pictures or drawings. All letters will be reviewed prior to distribution. Mail letters to: Fairplex, Letters of Hope, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona, CA 91768.

This press release was produced by the City of Walnut. The views expressed here are the author’s own.