Helping Aspiranet help kids

Whenever anyone tries to tell me that people have lost the spirit of the season, I tell them about the holiday gift drive that my agency, Aspiranet, participates in each year with Starbucks in the Modesto area. For the past four years, we've had the amazing good fortune to impact the lives of thousands of foster youth because of this special partnership that helps collect thousands of gifts at 300 California Starbucks locations. This year, we were able to collect and distribute 4,500 gifts for foster youth – a 30 percent increase from the previous year.

I'm inspired by the love and care for children I see demonstrated through this gift drive. I couldn't end this letter without emphasizing Aspiranet's most important work: finding loving and caring homes for children in need, particularly older youth and siblings. Please visit www.aspiranetheroes.org to learn more about our life-changing work.

Thank you to each and every person who so generously participated in making this year's gift drive a success.

SHARON SALAIZ

district director, Aspiranet Modesto

Modesto