F.I.A.T.M. Group to Host Toy Drive, Holiday Dinner to Benefit Community's Youth

Residents are encouraged to enjoy dinner and help give back to youth in need in their community this holiday season and join host, Family Is All That Matters (F.I.A.T.M.), in their annual toy drive. Community members and others interested in donating are asked to bring an unwrapped toy or gift item for youth ages 3 to 18 at a value of between $5 to $10 to the dinner and toy drive, which will take place the Saturday before Christmas, Dec. 21, at Bethune Park in Moreno Valley. Dinner selections include chicken or fish; the meal is $10 for those who do not bring a toy and $5 for those who do. The toys will be donated by Christmas to children in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Riverside Community Hospital (RCH), as well as to others in the community. Funds raised from the dinner event will go toward the purchase of toys and clothing items to be delivered to area children on Christmas Eve. This marks the fifth year the F.I.A.T.M. group has hosted the toy drive, explained founder Kuba "KB" Brown. "Last year we were able to give to 21 families outside of the ICU. We want to give back to at-risk youth and those in need." Last year the family of Perris resident Bathsheba Mike were recipients of toys collected in the toy drive. Mike's daughter, Armya Esclovon, now 10, received toys including a doll, coloring books and coloring materials. "I was very grateful for that," Mike said of the toys F.I.A.T.M. presented her daughter with. As a single mom, Mike explained that F.I.A.T.M. has helped her in many ways, including providing her daughter and one of her sons the opportunity to play sports on a scholarship program. For two years, Mike and her children have been active with F.I.A.T.M. "They help each year and they're truly a blessing," she said. Kendra Dedmon is a Moreno Valley resident who has children who last year were also recipients of some of the toys F.I.A.T.M. raised in the toy drive. During the holiday season, Dedmon was hospitalized and did not learn of the donation of toys to her children until after she returned home. "I was surprised," she said. Having been hospitalized, she explained it had been difficult for her to purchase toys at that time. "I was really happy that they had those toys for the holidays," she said. Brown founded F.I.A.T.M.in 2005 with the goal of helping give kids in the community a safe place to learn and participate in activities. "I founded it to help kids get out of the situations they might be in and help them get into college," he said. "We're keeping them out of the streets, keeping them from self-destructing. We also want to reach and edify their families. We want to bring back a sense of family and core values," he said. Since its establishment, the organization has grown to include mentors and volunteers who are parents, coaches, teachers and college students, to help guide youth in the program. F.I.A.T.M. provides services to youth, including athletics, tutoring and mentoring, all with an emphasis on family values. Mike explained she is grateful to F.I.A.T.M. for the services it provides to her children, anywhere from sports to mentoring to tutoring. "He (Brown) will, if I need him to, check up on my boys and make sure they're alright — or if my daughter needs tutoring — he will get that. I like that he's always kept my kids involved," said Mike. In the past, F.I.A.T.M. has reached out to children ranging in age from 3 to 18 through additional events including fashion shows and holiday food and toy drives. Anyone is welcome to volunteer their services during the Dec. 21 toy drive and dinner. Those who are interested in donating toys outside of the event may do so up until Dec. 15. Interested parties may contact F.I.A.T.M. at 951-200-5053. Bethune Park is located at 16745 Kitching St., Moreno Valley.