OAKLAND --- An encore round of the 13th Annual Community Giveback, hosted by All of Us or None, a project of Legal Services for Prisoners with Children based in San Francisco, CA, will be held on Saturday, Dec. 22 from 11:30am - 3pm at the ACTS Full Gospel Church, 1034-66th Avenue, Oakland, CA. The first round was held earlier this month in Menlo Park. The Oakland event will benefit children who have incarcerated parents and foster-care children within the Alameda County system.
The event is dedicated to the spirit of Robert Moody, a staunch community activist for formerly incarcerated people and their families who helped initiate the project which gives the children bikes on behalf of their locked up loved ones.
"As parents who were once on the inside, we understand the deep sadness that families separated by incarceration feel, especially around the holidays," said Dorsey Nunn, Executive Director of Legal Services for Prisoners with Children. Nunn will lead the bike giveaway event on Saturday. The goal of the event is "to remind children with incarcerated parents that they have a whole community of people who care about them," said event co-organizer, Hamdiya Cooks. Bicycles will be distributed to the children throughout the afternoon. There will also be food and refreshments.
In partnership with Healthy Communities and the Alameda County Faith Initiative, representatives are working to identify 70 children who will receive a bicycle for Christmas in the name of their parents who are currently incarcerated. All of Us or None spends months gathering donations from numerous individuals to purchase bicycles that will be given out on December 22nd. Volunteers from All of Us or None assemble the bikes prior to the event. They then custom fit the bikes and helmets for each child as they receive them.
"We are excited to partner with All of Us or None to further their rich work in the community year round. Providing our country's most precious commodities with the love and support they need during the holiday season, especially those in the foster care system, means the world to me and links directly with our organizations' core values," shares Pastor Raymond Lankford, CEO/Co-Founder of Healthy Communities, Inc.
Community partners include Alameda County Probation Department, Alameda County Social Services Agency, Healthy Communities Inc./Alameda County Faith Initiative, Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice, BWOPA Oakland Berkeley Chapter and ACTS Full Gospel Church.
The event is open to the press and pre-registered families only. Participants, including family members and children will be available for interviews. Organizers are available for phone interviews prior to the event.
VISUALS: A festive holiday party with food, face-painting and children receiving gifts including bicycles throughout the afternoon. Children are invited to share "affirmations" for the community at the microphone when they receive their gifts. Photos available by request.
What: 13th Annual Community Give Back - Oakland edition
When: Saturday - Dec. 22, 2012, 11:30am - 3pm
Where: ACTS Full Gospel Church, 1034-66th Avenue, Oakland, CA 94605 Contact: LaNiece Jones for event information 510.816.0453 (cell)
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