By Alicia Doyle
Sunday Signal Writer
From lighting candles for loved ones at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital to stacking toy donations in the sheriff’s station lobby, Santa Clarita’s nonprofits are turning December into a month-long invitation to give back close to home.
With campaigns that range from foster-youth gift drives to Adopt-a-Family wish lists, local organizations are offering residents simple, meaningful ways to transform holiday generosity into real support for neighbors in need.
Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Foundation
Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Foundation’s “Gift of Life” campaign has been a beloved holiday tradition in the Santa Clarita Valley for many years, inviting community members to honor or remember loved ones in a meaningful way. Donations range from $50 to $5,000 and directly support life-saving medical care for local patients, helping to strengthen the hospital’s ability to care for the community.
With a minimum gift of $50, donors receive a commemorative ornament as a keepsake of their tribute. Their generosity is also recognized with an inscription on a special display in the hospital’s main lobby and a listing on the Foundation’s website throughout the month of December.
Established in 1984, the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Foundation is a not-for-profit philanthropic organization dedicated to increasing community awareness and raising vital funds for key hospital initiatives. Its efforts help expand services and bring in new technology, enhancing the already high level of care available at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital.
Memorial donors are invited to attend the “Light Up A Life” ceremony on Dec. 15 at 5:30 p.m. in the Patient Tower Lobby, a moving tribute to the memorial donations made in 2025. During the ceremony, each memorialized name is read aloud as a candle is illuminated in their honor, with all candles displayed overnight in the Patient Tower Healing Garden; ceremony details and the commemorative ornament are mailed once a memorial gift is received.
Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital is located at 23845 McBean Parkway. For more information about the “Gift of Life” campaign or to participate, call (661) 200-1205 or email [email protected].
Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station
At the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, deputies are once again turning their Golden Valley Road headquarters into a hub of giving. Through December 10, the station is inviting both individuals and groups to donate toys that will be shared with local children and families in need, offering an easy, close-to-home way to brighten the season.
The toy drive focuses on new or sealed toys, board games, stuffed animals and craft supplies for children from infancy through age 17, with donations collected in the station lobby at 26201 Golden Valley Rd.
Gifts should be left unwrapped so deputies and volunteers can match items to children by age and interest before delivery, helping ensure that the toys stay in the community and reach those who might otherwise go without. Donations are being accepted during regular station hours through December 10, and residents with questions can reach the station’s Community Relations Deputy at (661) 287-5741.
Real Life Church
Brighten a foster child’s holiday by donating toys and gift cards through Real Life Church’s annual drive in Santa Clarita. This season, the church is partnering with the Department of Children and Family Services to collect new, unwrapped toys and gift cards for children and young adults in foster care, from infants through age 21.
Donations can be dropped off at any scheduled service through December 8 at Real Life Church, located at 23841 Newhall Ranch Rd., with services held Thursdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 8:30, 10 and 11:30 a.m. Each gift, whether a small toy or a modest gift card, helps brighten the holidays for local foster youth and offers a tangible reminder that their community sees and supports them.
For those who prefer to give from home, the church also offers an option to donate via Amazon; interested donors can contact the church office directly to receive instructions and the Amazon link. Anyone seeking more details about the drive can call (661) 775-7401 for information.
JCI Santa’s Helpers
Santa Clarita’s Jaycees, aka JCI, started their Santa’s Helpers project in 1999. The goal was to bring Christmas gifts to the children of Santa Clarita who might not otherwise receive gifts.
A toy drive was held and children wrote letters to Santa. JCI Santa Clarita members read the letters and decided which kids would get toys.
On Christmas Eve, Santa and his elves would deliver these toys to each child at their home. The project has expanded significantly since then. In 2024, JCI provided gifts for more than 800 children.
There are a number of toy donation boxes located around the valley. A list can be found at santashelpersscv.com/donation-locations.
There is also a Amazon page where JCI has a list of gifts they are seeking. It can be found at bit.ly/49P2USR.
