This Christmas, various Society of St. Vincent de Paul Conferences throughout the Archdiocese of Los Angeles are collecting new toys, food and financial donations to help make the holiday season a memorable one for thousands of disadvantaged and homeless children and families. The children and families being helped this Christmas have already been selected.

Following is a list of St. Vincent de Paul Conferences and their holiday needs:

LOS ANGELES
Our Mother of Good Counsel Conference: New and unwrapped toys for more than 90 boys and girls, ages 7-13; sponsors to adopt two families in extreme need, to purchase gifts for each member of the family and food for the family; monetary donations to help purchase the needed toys and food.

Financial gifts earmarked "Christmas 2006" can be mailed to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Our Mother of Good Counsel Conference, 2060 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027-2597. Donations can also be dropped off at the above address from 9-11 a.m., Saturdays only, until Dec. 15. Information: (323) 664-2111.

St. Brigid Conference: New and unwrapped toys for more than 100 boys and girls, ages 16 and under; food (hams, turkeys, canned meats, canned tuna, canned fruits and canned vegetables) for 150 families; Community Christmas Day Meal (turkey, ham and all the fixings) for an expected 250 homeless individuals; monetary donations to help purchase the needed toys and food.

Financial gifts earmarked "Christmas 2006" can be mailed to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul St. Brigid Conference, 5214 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90062. Donations can also be dropped off at the above address from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday thru Friday, until Dec. 21. Information: (323) 294-1473.

CARSON
St. Philomena Conference: New and unwrapped toys for 300 boys and girls, ages 14 and under; food (canned meats, canned tuna, canned fruits and canned vegetables) for 120 families; sponsors to adopt 30 families in extreme need, to purchase gifts for each member of the family and food for the family; monetary donations to help purchase the needed toys and food.

Financial gifts earmarked "Christmas 2006" can be mailed to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul St. Philomena Conference, 21900 Main St., Carson, CA 90745. Donations can also be dropped off at the above address from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday thru Friday, until Dec. 16. Information: (310) 830-5294 or (310) 835-7162.

COMPTON
Our Lady of Victory Conference: New and unwrapped toys for 80 boys and girls, ages 13 and under; food (turkeys, chickens, potatoes, onions and celery) for 20 families; sponsors to adopt five families in extreme need, to purchase gifts for each member of the family and food for the family; monetary donations to help purchase the needed toys and food.

Financial gifts earmarked "Christmas 2006" can be mailed to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Our Lady of Victory Conference, 519 E. Palmer St., Compton, CA 90221-2696. Donations can also be dropped off at the above address from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday thru Saturday, until Dec. 14. Information: (310) 631-3233 or (310) 763-3711.

POMONA
St. Joseph Conference: New and unwrapped toys for 700 boys and girls, ages 1-12; food (turkeys, hams, roasting chickens, canned fruit, canned vegetables, rice, beans, potatoes, yams and juices) for 150 families; sponsors to adopt 30 families in extreme need, to purchase gifts for each member of the family and food for the family; monetary donations to help purchase the needed toys and food.

Financial gifts earmarked "Christmas 2006" can be mailed to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul St. Joseph Conference, 1150 W. Holt Ave., Pomona, CA 91768. Donations can also be dropped off at the above address from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday, until Dec. 20. Information: (909) 469-9773 or (909) 629-4101.

OXNARD
Mary Star of the Sea Conference: New and unwrapped toys for 145 boys and girls, ages 12 and under; monetary donations to help purchase the needed toys and food vouchers for 75 families.

Financial gifts earmarked "Christmas 2006" can be mailed to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Mary Star of the Sea Conference, 463 W. Pleasant Valley Rd., Oxnard,CA 93033-7599. Donations can also be dropped off at the above address from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday thru Friday until Dec. 20. Information: (805) 486-6133, ext. 210.

WESTLAKE VILLAGE
St. Maximilian Kolbe Conference: monetary donations to help purchase the new toys for 50 disadvantaged children, ages 16 and under.

Financial gifts earmarked "Christmas 2006" can be mailed to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul St. Maximilian Kolbe Conference, 5801 Kanan Rd., Westlake Village, CA 91362-5499. Donation deadline is Dec. 20. Information: (818) 991-3915

WHITTIER
St. Mary of the Assumption Conference: New and unwrapped toys for 70 boys and girls, ages 16 and under; monetary donations to help purchase the needed toys and food vouchers for 30 families.

Financial gifts earmarked "Christmas 2006" can be mailed to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul St. Mary of the Assumption Conference, 7215 Newlin Ave., Whittier, CA 90602. Donations can also be dropped off at the above address from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Friday, until Dec. 23. Information: (562) 698-0107.

For more information about the Society of St. Vincent de Paul's local Conferences or outreach programs, call (323) 224-6298 or 800-97-HELP1, ext. 298.