The seventh annual Cooperation Agencies Resources for Education Christmas celebration will be held on Dec. 20 in the Student Center. “We have a Santa Clause that comes in, that is actually Frank Guy in the English Department, each student gets a toy, from the Toys for Tots program, and a stuffed animal, and some parents bring something like a main dish or something, and we have music,” said Sylvia Arevalo.

C.A.R.E. is a program under EOPS that provides resources and gives support for disadvantaged, single head of household parents with children that are receiving public assistance (such as CalWorks).

C.A.R.E. students are trying to establish self-sufficiency through enrollment and completion of a degree or job training program.The Toys for Tots program has once again generously donated toys this year, however, C.A.R.E. is in need of a few items like wrapping paper, candy for stockings and small gifts for teenagers.

The Toys for Tots program distributes toys for children 12 and under, but we need additional gifts for children 13 to 16, for example five to ten dollars gift certificates for McDonald’s, Taco Bell, books, bath items, etc.”Mainly the toys from Toys for Tots are for children, so for the older kids there isn’t much for them, we need toys for 13 year old children,” said Arevalo.

“I just wanted all the children to have a Christmas,” said founder of the event Marcia Chaney.

“The S.P.I.C.E. Club is donating their time, wrapping paper, in addition to their bake sale,. The bookstore has donated several items, for them (teenagers). We would like to have a raffle for the moms so they can get a present,” Chaney said.

“Campus police often help, hopefully they will participate this year as well, [they] usually send a couple of their staff over, they used to bring a [squadcar] over and the children would play, go inside of it and have fun in it,” Chaney said.

“The art club is donating their time for face painting, the adviser is to play the accordion. [From] CalWorks some of the staff members will donate their time. Jeanne Champers in the financial aid office and her father donate stuffed animals, they buy these every year with their own money,” Chaney said.

“Home Depot donates the Christmas tree the children decorate that night and then we raffle it to families that don’t have one,” Chaney said.”We will accept food items like canned goods, cookies, and fruit. I thank everyone for all their help and contributions. If you care, please give the C.A.R.E. celebrations help less fortunate children to have a wonderful Christmas,” Chaney said.

Donations of toys, food, wrapping paper, or anything else can be dropped off at the EOPS office or for more information call Marcia Chaney at (562) 860-5724 Ext. 2384