Phoenix House offers alcohol and drug abuse treatment and prevention services in almost 100 programs in nine states including residential drug treatment for adults, residential Phoenix Academies combining long-term drug treatment and schooling for teens, outpatient care and after-school and day programs. The current population is 5,000.
In California, Phoenix House operates three residential academies for teens in Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange County.
Adult performer Chris Cannon got involved with Phoenix House when his mother moved to California and got a job there.
"A small bombshell dropped on them this year. They didn't have money to provide Christmas gifts for all the kids at all the Phoenix House locations, so they canceled the funding," Cannon told XBIZ. "Some of these kids are underprivileged, they've been in gangs, some of them have been turned out into prostitution, they've been addicted to drugs, they've gotten in trouble with the law.
"If they don't get anything from Phoenix House, they aren't going to receive a single thing for Christmas this year."
Donated items should be unwrapped and guidelines are available at AIM regarding what items are appropriate for the environment and the age groups involved.
"We're not asking for money," Cannon said. "We're asking for any little thing that anybody can contribute."
Items can be dropped off the AIM main office at 4630 Van Nuys Blvd. in Sherman Oaks, Calif., and the satellite office at 10727 White Oak Ave., #206, in Granada Hills, Calif.
The drive will end Dec. 18.