LA County Fire Department employee gives back to foster children

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- If you take a look at Princess Isreal's desk, it's clear she's a proud and loving mother of three.

But Isreal's youth was different than her children's. She spent several years in foster care.

"I was placed in foster care when I was like six years old up until we were 12," she says.

Isreal now works for the Los Angeles County Fire Department in inventory. She takes pride in the department's efforts to support ABC 7's Spark of Love Toy Drive, now in its 25th year.

"They don't only put out fires you know. They actually donate their time to help kids in need and parents in need," Israel said.

For the past three years, Isreal has volunteered at the Spark of Love in part due to her past.

"Sometimes it could feel like the world is against you and just that little moment makes it a lot better," she says, as she recalls being on the receiving end of a toy drive. "That's the one day out of the year that you see everybody happy and nobody's grumpy and mad, and you feel somebody actually cares for you," she added.

That's the feeling she wants to give the thousands of children at "Spark of Love" - most of them are in foster care.

"There's always somebody. You're never alone. Somebody always cares."