CBS4 News

(CBS4) This holiday season CBS4 and King Soopers are teaming up to collect new toys and cash donations for children and youth served by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver.

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The following is information about the Care 4 Colorado Emergency Toy Drive toy collection event on Friday.

What: Care 4 Colorado Emergency Toy Drive

When: Friday, Dec. 18, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Where: King Soopers, 2750 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO 80222 Colorado & Yale

Who: Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver are seeking last minute toy donations for youth ages 6-18, with an emphasis on kids 10 and older.

What's Needed:
- Gift Cards such as King Soopers, Target, Best Buy, Sports Authority, Borders, Kohl's, etc.
(please only bring gift cards and monetary donations to the 2750 S. Colorado Blvd. location -- other items can be brought to any of the stores listed below ... online donations can also be made at www.bgcmd.org.)
- Craft Activity Kits
- Arts & Crafts Supplies
- Hair Accessories and Jewelry
- Science kits
- Journals and drawing books
- Robotics kits
- Nail Polish and Makeup Kits
- Jigsaw Puzzles
- Board Games and Card Games
- Activity Kits
- Musical Equipment
- Sports Equipment (basketball, football, soccer, etc.)
- Bicycles, Scooters, Skateboards and Helmets
- Remote Control Cars and Boats
- CDs (age appropriate, current artists, Disney)
- Portable/Personal CD or MP3 Players
- DVD Movies (age appropriate)
- DVD Players
- Video Games (Xbox, PlayStation, Wii -rated E)
- Hand-held Electronic Games (Gameboy, Nintendo DS, etc.)
- Digital Cameras with memory cards
- Sports-themed hooded sweatshirts, jerseys, hats
- Winter gear (hats, gloves, scarves)
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King Soopers is collecting new toys at all Metro Area locations on through Dec. 31, 2009. All items will be distributed at Boys & Girls Clubs' holiday parties so that every child gets a gift this year.*

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver has been helping young people make the most of their lives since 1961, when the first club opened its doors to children who needed a positive place to spend free time. Today, kids ages 6-18 are served at eight youth facilities located throughout the Denver metro area.

Online donations to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver can be made by going to www.bgcmd.org.

All gently used items collected throughout the campaign will be donated to the Denver Santa Claus Shop, an organization that provides new and used toys to low-income families during the holiday season.

The following are a list of participating King Soopers locations:
1331 N. Speer Blvd.
Denver, CO 80204
303-571-5566

6350 Sheridan Blvd.
Arvada, CO 80003
303-429-1597

5050 S. Federal Blvd.
Englewood, CO 80110
303-798-2521

1355 Krameria
Denver, CO 80220
303-399-1086

5125 W. Florida
Denver, CO 80219
303-936-7493

2205 West Wildcat Reserve Parkway
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
720-344-4503

1015 S. Taft Hill Road
Fort Collins, CO 80521
970-221-4943

15250 E. Mississippi
Aurora, CO 80012
303-671-8697

2100 35th Avenue
Greeley, CO 80634
970-339-1700

1375 S. Boulder Road
Louisville, CO 80027
303-673-1800

655 Peoria Street
Aurora, CO 80010
303-364-9218

19711 E. Smoky Hill Road
Centennial, CO 80015
303-400-3038

2223 S. Monaco Parkway
Denver, CO 80222
303-758-9202

2325 S. College
Fort Collins, CO 80525
970-482-8855

3100 S. Sheridan
Denver, CO 80227
303-937-4400

825 S. Colorado Blvd.
Denver, CO 80246
303-722-5779

750 E. 104th Avenue
Thornton, CO 80229
303-452-8657

6470 E. Hampden Avenue
Denver, CO 80222
303-758-1210

3400 Youngfield
Wheatridge, CO 80033
303-238-6486

9731 W. 58th Avenue
Arvada, CO 80002
303-421-0871

11747 W. Ken Caryl Avenue
Littleton, CO 80127
303-933-5100

9551 S. University Blvd.
Highlands Ranch, CO 80126
303-470-3216

6550 Lookout Road
Boulder, CO 80301
303-530-1020

1155 S. Havana
Aurora, CO 80012
303-755-1244

2712 11th Avenue
Greeley, CO 80631
970-353-9660

1575 W. 84th Avenue
Federal Heights, CO 80221
303-427-9176

1155 E. 9th Avenue
Denver, CO 80218
303-832-5262

1927 S. Wadsworth Blvd.
Lakewood, CO 80227
303-985-8795

3600 Table Mesa Drive
Boulder, CO 80303
303-499-4004

890 S. Monaco Parkway
Denver, CO 80224
303-333-1535

8031 Wadsworth Blvd.
Arvada, CO 80005
303-420-4611

3190 S. Parker Road
Aurora, CO 80014
303-750-2450

6760 S. Pierce
Littleton, CO 80128
303-979-2280

5050 E. Arapahoe Road
Centennial, CO 80122
303-770-3400

12043 W. Alameda Parkway
Lakewood, CO 80228
303-988-8000

2255 N. Main Street
Longmont, CO 80501
303-772-7950

253 E. 29th Street
Loveland, CO 80538
970-669-6222

12350 W. 64th Avenue
Arvada, CO 80004
303-431-0080

17000 E. Iliff Avenue
Aurora, CO 80013
303-752-4111

15109 E. Colfax Avenue
Aurora, CO 80011
303-343-0064

9983 Wadsworth Blvd.
Westminster, CO 80030
303-424-0670

7575 S. University
Centennial, CO 80122
303-798-0530

9800 W. Belleview
Littleton, CO 80123
303-978-9618

2727 W. Evans Avenue
Denver, CO 80219
303-936-2375

5301 W. 38th Avenue
Wheatridge, CO 80212
303-425-7356

1545 S. Kipling
Lakewood, CO 80232
303-989-8180

1650 30th Street
Boulder, CO 80301
303-443-9622

8200 S. Holly
Centennial, CO 80122
303-779-4499

1555 Quail
Lakewood, CO 80215
303-233-1511

10351 Federal Blvd.
Westminster, CO 80260
303-404-3342

1173 Bergen Parkway
Evergreen, CO 80439
303-674-8249

101 Englewood Parkway
Englewood, CO 80110
303-761-0013

4271 S. Buckley Road
Aurora, CO 80013
303-680-8600

100 Founders Parkway
Castle Rock, CO 80104
303-663-0177

4503 J.F.K. Parkway
Fort Collins, CO 80525
970-223-5759

3801 E. 120th Avenue
Thornton, CO 80241
303-451-6955

100 Littleton Blvd.
Littleton, CO 80120
303-794-1583

2750 S. Colorado Blvd.
Denver, CO 80222
303-512-0122

1275 Eagle Drive
Loveland, CO 80537
970-663-4125

12959 S. Parker Road
Parker, CO 80134
303-840-1223

500 E. Bromley Lane
Brighton, CO 80601
303-655-7555

8126 S. Wadsworth Blvd.
Littleton, CO 80218
720-981-4391

995 S. Hover Street
Longmont, CO 80501
303-702-0099

17171 S. Golden Road
Golden, CO 80401
303-279-5458

18605 Green Valley Ranch Blvd.
Denver, CO 80249
303-371-8767

15200 West 64th Avenue
Arvada, CO 80007
720-898-4228

25637 Conifer Road
Conifer, CO 80433
303-816-4960

1150 Hwy 287
Broomfield, CO 80020
303-439-2610

6412 South Parker Road
Aurora, CO 80016
303-627-6060

12167 Sheridan Blvd.
Broomfield, CO 80020
303-439-0113

17031 Lincoln Avenue
Parker, CO 80134
720-851-7750

1725 Sheridan Blvd.
Edgewater, CO 80214
303-237-4988
7284 Lagae Road
Castle Rock, CO 80108
303-688-6200

2810 Quebec Street
Denver, CO 80207
303-333-3223

6000 S. Holly Street
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
720-488-3401

4850 East 62nd Avenue
Commerce City, CO 80022
303-287-3419

2930 11th Avenue
Evans, CO 80620
970-395-9011

2602 S. Timberline Road
Fort Collins, CO 80620
970-395-9011

4910 S. Yosemite
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
303-793-9080

13700 Colorado Blvd.
Thornton, CO 80602
720-872-1630

6110 Firestone Blvd.
Firestone, CO 80504
303-682-4160

8673 South Quebec
Highlands Ranch, CO 80126
303-683-4994

1611 Pace Street
Longmont, CO 80504
303-776-7570

1520 Main Street
Windsor, CO 80550
970-674-2830

4000 Red Cedar Drive
Highlands Ranch, CO 80126
303-683-7383

1045 South First Street
Bennett, CO 80102
303-644-5070

2355 W. 136th
Broomfield, CO 80023
303-920-3052

8055 Sheridan Blvd.
Arvada, CO 80003
303-487-5320

18211 E. Hampden Avenue
Aurora, CO 80013
303-627-3300

7901 S. Broadway
Littleton, CO 80122
303-738-5700

7984 W. Alameda Avenue
Lakewood, CO 80226
303-914-2060

750 Ridge Road
Castle Rock, CO 80104
303-660-2500

480 N. Hwy 287
Lafayette, CO 80026
303-604-3060

About The Boys & Girls Club of Metro Denver  

Every day hundreds of children rely on the Boys & Girls clubs as a safe haven, a place where they can get help and guidance to reach their full potential.

"We help kids do better in school and help them with academic success first and foremost," said John Arigoni, President and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver. "We enable children to learn how to lead a healthy lifestyle, free of drugs and alcohol and to attain a proper and healthy weight. And also to be young men and women of good character and citizenship."

There are more than 9,000 children registered as membera in the eight clubs throughout the Metro area. To become a member a child has to be between the ages of 6 and 18 and pay a $2 per year membership fee. The Boys & Girls clubs are located in some of the city's low-income neighborhoods.

"Almost all of the kids qualify for free and reduced lunch, so we're really working with a segment of our population that would be described as low income. And we're dealing with kids that are unfortunately are from neighborhoods where there's a tremendous amount of gang activity," Arigoni added.

Boys & Girls clubs promote academic success through their "Power Hour" and "Accelerated Reader" programs. They offer sports teams and physical activities on a daily basis. And members have access to computer labs and homework help.

Each of the clubs use the toys as incentives. Members earn "club bucks" by doing homework, reading or other activities in the club. Then the children are allowed to use the bucks to buy toys.

"There's a direct relationship between effort and reward. And, I think, that's one of the most basic things we can teach our children is that there no such thing as a free lunch. ... We're not a society built on handouts," Arigoni told CBS4.

The Boys & Girls Clubs use toys as rewards throughout the entire year, but most of them are given out during the clubs end-of-year holiday parties. For many of these children the toys they get at the Boys & Girls Club will be the only toy they get this Christmas.

"Even though things are tough all around the country, I guarantee you for many of the families that we serve it's even tougher. I think in some cases if it wasn't for the toy drive the kids would go without," Arigoni said.


*If there are additional items from the drive beyond the holiday parties, they will be used throughout the year in all of the clubs as prizes for the Power Hour learning center program, where kids can earn prizes for doing homework.

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