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Donjä Garvey, right, founder of My Mother's Voice, gets a hug from Reyna Limones, after giving her baby supplies for Limones' son, who is due next month. The baby supplies, including a crib, bedding, a stroller and more, were purchased with money donated by Book of Dreams readers. "I feel special," Limones said, who plans to continue her school to become a registered nurse. " I just feel love." Read the story. -
Garren Bratcher, co-director of Friendship Park, left, and staff member Clarence Allen aka 'Pinky' hug the brand new coffee pot purchased for them through donations from Book of Dreams readers as it was received December 8, 2011. Read the story. -
Keith Cooper, who is non-verbal, shows off his new communication device, called a Pen Friend, purchased for him by Book of Dreams readers. He was excited that the device was his and kept saying "mine" in sign language when he unwrapped it. Today, Dec. 20, 2011, he used it to order food at Carl's Jr. Read the story. -
Mariah Allen, 17, right, tackles Moriah Cuevas, 16, center as she passes the ball to Barbra Mendoza, 17, during girls practice with Lancer Rugby Club behind Cordova High School. The team, which is coached by volunteers and receives no school funding is in need of new uniforms, balls and mouth guards for the kids. Read the story. -
Alichia Church, 18, swings with her 17-month-old daughter, Zo‘ Church-Valdez, at Southside Park. She is a teen mom who participates in My Mother's Voice, which helps support young mothers with counseling and providing basic supplies. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money to buy basic supplies for My Mother's Voice to give to teen mothers, such as cribs, car seats, strollers, bedding, clothes etc.Read the story. -
Michael Pacheco helps his daughters, Juanita, 8, left, and Natalie, 6, decorate a Christmas tree December 7, 2011. Pacheco received a traumatic brain injury from being attacked with a baseball bat in 1998. That event turned his life around from being a trouble-maker, who spent time in juvenile hall and prison, to being a responsible father, who's sole purpose is to ensure that his children grow up to have a bright future. He is unable to work because of his injuries, so he goes to Pioneer Elementary School every day with his children to help the teachers and encourage the kids to do well in school. One of the teachers there, Elizabeth Wihtol, nominated the family to receive Christmas presents this year from the Book of Dreams. The family is also in need of more beds in their home and Pacheco needs better shoes to help him walk more comfortably. Read the story. -
Rashawn Turnipseed, 17, Sir Anthony Riddick, 17, and Simranjeet Benipal, 15, write during an after school program called 916 Ink at Arthur A. Benjamin Health Professions High School November 16, 2011. The program, which seeks to increase literacy in challenged areas, would like to publish a book of the student's writing. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money to publish these books. Read the story. -
Ronnie Smith Alves, 14, who used to live in foster care but is now adopted, plays video games at home with his brother, who is also an adopted foster child, Malachi Alves, 12. Their adopted parents, Maria Durham and Rolando Acuna, work with WynSpring Family Resource Center, which has requested from Book of Dreams money to buy suitcases for the foster children that they serve. Foster kids are often on the move and do not have a proper place to store their few belongings. Read the story. -
Justin Shimizu picks up trash as a volunteer at Southside Park with his INALLIANCE support person, Koua Vang. Shimizu is autistic and non-verbal and sometimes communicates by pushing or making loud noises. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money to buy him an iPad, which will allow him to communicate better with people in the public. People are often afraid of Justin because of his outbursts, but Vang says he is really a very gentle person when he has the ability to communicate. Read the story. -
Keith Cooper eats at McDonald's where he used a picture book to order a burger with his INALLIANCE support person, Steve Pierce. Cooper is non-verbal and is able to communicate with others by pointing to pictures in a book. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money to buy him two communications devices which would allow him to complete tasks such as order food and cash his check at the bank independently. Read the story. -
Shirley King, center, and her helpers, Twila Tomita, of Sacramento, left, and Nancy Griffith of Sacramento, right, sew and fold items for children in need during a work day at her Elk Grove home. King is the director of her own non-profit organization called Gramma's Hugs International which makes and sends blankets, belongings bags, blanketed toys, pillows and more to children in need both locally and world-wide. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money to buy the organization fleece and flannel fabrics. Read the story. -
Rosa Sanchez reads a book to three of her children, from left, Charles, 4, Carlos, 3, and Mythiast, 1, at the Learning Center at Roseville Home Start, a transitional housing community for homeless families. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money to buy the center furnishing and supplies such as books, art supplies and games. Read the story. -
Senior Gleaners volunteers Shirley Elwell of Orangevale, left, and Bob Davidson of Sacramento use forklifts to move food at the organization's warehouse in North Sacramento. The volunteers who deliver the bounty to the region's food banks often have inadequate protection from winter's rain and cold. The organization is seeking $2,000 to buy ponchos and gloves. Read story. -
Deja Westbrook, 9, sings in the Phoenix Park Multi-Cultural Kids Choir Nov. 18, 2011. Read the story. -
Jay Oakley sips hot coffee at Friendship Park. Book of Dreams readers are asked for money to buy Friendship Park a new industrial-sized coffee maker. They serve 80 gallons of coffee a day with an old coffee maker that is struggling to work. Read the story. -
Jennifer Deshaies visits her infant daughter, Erica Zipora Hope Chilton, who has been hospitalized in the NICU at UC Davis Medical Center since she was born in August. Deshaies is living at the Kiwanis Family House while they await two major surgeries that will correct Erica's medical problems. The Kiwanis Family House is in need of food to stock their food closet. Read the story. -
Homeless children attend class at Mustard Seed School at Loaves & Fishes. From left, Americorps volunteer, Mairin Matthews does the hair of Aaryana Turner, 7, who is fixing the hair of, Janice Hulme, 6. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money to buy a new pair of shoes for each child at Mustard Seed School. Read the story. -
Twenty-three-year-old Manny Alvarez walks down the hall with his mother, Maria Alvarez, assisting him as they spend time together in their Oroville home. Manny has complex developmental delays and multiple medical problems that began at birth when doctors told his mother that he would not live past the age of two weeks. His family never gave up on him and loved him with all their might. He survives today with a quirky sense of humor and a deep devotion to his loved ones. Book of Dreams readers are asked to donate money to buy him a motorized wheelchair so that he can get out of the house more and be independent. Read the story.
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