Walmart Hosts Wayne Coy's Toys Radiothon to Benefit Sleep Train Foster Kids

By Jay Hipps, Hacienda Network Staff Writer

What could be more in the holiday spirit than sharing the joy that a gift can bring? That is part of the idea behind the Wayne Coy's Toys Radiothon, an event which will take place from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm on Friday, December 11 featuring Coy, radio personality from 101.7 KKIQ and 92.1 KKDV, at the Hacienda Walmart, 4501 Rosewood Drive. The public is invited to donate new, unwrapped toys for the Sleep Train Foster Kids program, which will then distribute them to foster children in the area. Hometown Mornings' Coy will be broadcasting live from the store for all 15 hours of the event, beginning at 6:00 am.

"We're excited for year number two of Wayne Coy's Toys to benefit the Sleep Train Foster Kids," says Coy. "Sleep Train has had this program for a while, and I got to know them from having done their endorsements on the air. When I found that they were involved with foster children and they have a program that spoke to that need, it got my attention pretty quickly."

The cause is one that is particularly close to Coy's heart in that he was a foster child himself, an experience he describes as "one of the weirdest things you can go through as a kid."

"You're living with people who have agreed to have you be in their home for a short period of time, to get you through a transition or whatever is going on, and often in the hustle and bustle of their own family, the foster kid sort of gets forgotten," he says. "Nothing is more awkward or embarrassing, and it kind of hurts a little bit. You go through that experience at the holidays where everyone else is sort of in the present and you're an afterthought."

Over 60,000 California children find themselves living in foster care at any given time, many of whom having entered the program with little to no possessions. Last year, Wayne Coy's Toys Radiothon donations totaled over 1,500 toys.

"We just ask everybody if you live here, and you've got some love in your heart, to think about your own family of course during the holidays, but try to take a few minutes to think about somebody you don't even know," he says. "You can literally make a difference in their holiday, and it's pretty convenient because Walmart has got a nice big toy section. You can do your own shopping there but just get that extra present for that kid you don't know, and on your way out I'll be happy to take that from you."

For additional information on the event, contact KKIQ and KKDV director of marketing and promotions Angela Ruffoni at (925) 455-4500 or e-mail Angela.Ruffoni@AlphaMediaUSA.com.

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