Sam’ta Claus Collects Gift Cards for DCFS Students
Kai EL' Zabar
Samuel Love at Kick-off press conference for his holiday gift card drive for Kids 2016 “7th grader, Samuel Love, takes on role of ‘Sam’ta Claus’ Collects Gift Cards for DCFS students at Thompson Center kicking off 2016 toy drive to collect 10K toys for kids in weather-ravished areas.”
By Kai EL’ Zabar
Fortunately for the city of Chicago’s less fortunate youth by day, Samuel Love is a 13-year-old, 7th grader at Murray Language Academy however when the holidays roll in, Samuel assumes the identity of Sam’ta Claus. The young man mature and wise for his age does so in an effort to bring holiday cheer to those not so fortunate. For the fifth year, Love is collecting toys for youngsters whose holidays have been impacted by some of the worse weather-related tragedies in the country.
Samuel Love surrounded by DCFS staff at Kick Off press conference for 2016 holiday gift cards and toys for kids
In November little Sam Loved kicked off his 2016 campaign to collect 10K toys at the Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph St., with a special rally in partnership with the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS). Young Love is collecting gift cards for older youngsters in the care of DCFS. Joining him at the the kick-off press conference was George Sheldon, director of the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS).
This holiday season, Love aka Sam’ta, is collecting toys and gift cards for the children in Lumberton and neighboring Princeville in North Carolina, towns nearly lost to Hurricane Matthew, and the related flooding earlier this year. Located in Robeson County, Lumberton is the home to about 22,000 people and more than 2,000 families with children who were displaced as a result of flooding. Most of these families lived in four of the city’s public housing developments, along with two of its Section 8 rent-assisted apartments—about 545 units housing about 1,470 people. Lumberton has among the highest rates of poverty in North Carolina.
Sam’ta Love with his father Victor Love
Guests present included Mother Josephine Wade, Rep. LaShawn Ford, and Aldermen Roderick Sawyer (6th), David Moore (17th) and Anthony Beale (9th). Principal Greg Mason, Murray Language Academy, representatives from Morgan Park High School, Catholic Charities, DePaul University, Sam’s Club, Toys R Us, Studio Movie Grill and Black McDonald’s Operators Association (BMOA).
View these links to learn more about Sam’ta Claus:
https://vimeo.com/145442106 https://vimeo.com/145430934
https://www.today.com/news/samuel-love-spreading-love-needy-children-creating-toy-drive-1D80380678 Save Save
