Pescadero – The holiday season is in full swing in Pescadero as dozens of children have received gifts from the Children’s Fund Holiday Gift Program.
Games, dolls, puzzles, stuffed animals, toy trucks and balls of all sizes were among the gifts handed to children this weekend.
“The gifts from the Children’s Fund are so helpful,” said Pescadero resident Alejandra Castro. “It was a very challenging year for us but the gifts my son received brought him so much joy.”
The gifts were made possible by San Mateo County residents and local nonprofit organizations who made donations through an Amazon wish list.
“The Holiday Gift Program is like operating a department store, warehouse and shipping fleet,” said Rozeena Jhinnu, the Children’s Fund program coordinator, “We have a great system in place and rely on our residents to make donations. It’s because of them that this program thrives.”
Founded in 1973, the Children’s Fund is as a grassroots effort by social workers to assist foster and low-income children in San Mateo County access goods and services that are not available through public funds. More than 3,500 children and youth receive resources from the program every year.
This year’s gift distribution in Pescadero was held in conjunction with an event to help families prepare for this winter’s storms. More than 100 local residents turned out to receive an emergency kit and to learn about storm preparedness and flood safety.
Additional gift distributions are being held across San Mateo County.
