W e e k l y COLTON COURIER
Vol 147, NO. 01
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Decem ber 20, 20 18
Seeds of Hope hosts toy giveaway IECN Staff
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This is not about us, this is about the community,” Seeds of Hope Executive Director Gloria Gaona said to the 40-plus volunteers who were preparing for the 10th annual toy giveaway at the rear of Leno’s Rico Taco on Saturday, Dec. 15.
THIS WEEK Gloria’s Corner
The event, started by Gloria and her late husband, Richard, continues to be a family affair, with sons Steven and Richard Jr. on board.
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“I have to put me aside and do what I know God wants us to do to keep his vision going,” Gaona continued.
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San Manuel toy drive benefits Pg. 6
PHOTO
MARYJOY DUNCAN
Non-profit organization Seeds of Hope hosted its 10th annual toy giveaway behind Leno’s Rico Taco on Saturday, Dec. 15, with 300 local youth receiving donated toys. Pictured is Anthony Martinez who has dressed up as Santa Claus since the event’s inception, along with his wife Valerie and their grandchildren, from left: Rosalie Garnett, 7, Georgie Luna, 4, and Emily Lopez, 3.
300 children, many of whom were referred to by the Colton and San Bernardino school districts, received gifts that day - as well as the opportunity to participate in various arts and crafts projects, cookie decorating and face painting. Giveaway, cont. on pg. 2
Thr ough par tner ships the Esperanza Project spreads holiday ma gic to displaced childr en
year-old Chloe Rosales, Cooper Perez, 10, and Alexis Domenici, 8, for their assistance with the event the past two years.
By Manny B. Sandoval
T
he Esperanza Project held a holiday party for displaced children on Saturday, December 15.
Amazon donates $100,000 to local sch ool districts Pg. 7
INSIDE Gloria’s Corner
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Words To Think About 5 Opinion
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Legal Notices
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The successful movement was made possible through a partnership between the Esperanza Project, STARS Behavioral Health Group, Representative Curt Lewis who was present on behalf of Congressman Pete Aguilar and Representative Esmeralda Vasquez who attended on behalf of Assemblywoman Eloise Gómez Reyes.
“We coordinated the Holiday Party for Displaced Children of San Bernardino and the children got to choose two toys, eat a meal…including desert and danced the evening away,” said Connie Rosales, founder of the Esperanza Project. “We were fortunate to collect a total of 470 toys and items such as curling irons, hair dryers and personal kits with make up, for our older teenagers. The toys and items were also given out to Loma Linda University Health (SACHS) Clinic who service low income families including the homeless,” continued Rosales.
“Through this effort partnerships were created with STARS Behavioral Health Group who we have been collaborating with for the past four years, who service these children,” Rosales said. She expressed how important partnerships are in the community, because when everyone comes together as one, more can be accomplished.
“We had a total of 140 people attend, about 90 of them were children. We had plenty of volunteers including student volunteers,” Rosales noted. Rosales spoke highly of eight-
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PHOTO
CONNIE ROSALES
Children had the opportunity to take photos with Santa Claus.
“We would like to thank San Gorgonio Service Center Council/California Teachers Esperanza, cont. on next page