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Santa Claus brought joy to hundreds of children at Saturday’s Santa & Me celebration at Las Piedras Park Police Storefront where each child received a gift, photo and special visit with the Jolly One. |
Santa & Me: Police Store Front celebration brings holiday to LP Park
December 23, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
It was no surprise that Margarita Gonzalez and her own three children “Plus,” said noted, “two extras!” had been first in line as they had arrived at the Las Piedras Santa Paula Police Storefront Saturday at 6 a.m.
And sure enough, when the roar of motorcycles and mufflers of classic cars was heard they didn’t move an inch, although Old St. NIck had arrived at the 8th Annual Santa & Me holiday celebration at Las Piedras Park that drew hundreds of people.
It was the fifth Santa & Me for SPPD Detective Shane Norwood, who in lieu of a MacGruff The Crime Fighting Dog sticker signed his autograph decorated with a tongue-in-cheek self-portrait for an eager boy named Jose.
It’s the kids that Norwood said he especially enjoys: “When you see the looks on their faces when they meet Santa, when they walk out with a gift, any gift that they’re so grateful for…”
The street was closed to allow for Santa and his entourage for the 2015 Toy Run as hundreds and hundreds of gifts were delivered.
“God bless this community,” said Police Chief Steve McLean who noted the effort brought more toys than last year when, We ran out…then Mayor John Procter and me and some others chipped in,” for a hurried shopping trip to ensure each child had a gift.
Because the crowd lines up hours in advance, McLean said there was coffee, sweet breads and other snacks for those in for the long haul of waiting for Santa.
“As of yesterday we had more than 700 toys,” donated by individuals, churches, organizations and others.
McLean said he had his own request for Santa: “That everyone gets a toy today…even with the economy picking up people are still struggling.”
Mayor Martin Hernandez said his favorite part of the event is “Just bringing the community together and giving back…to me not just for Christmas but to keep people in our hearts and minds all year long.”
Hernandez had been in the Toy Run and said “Something for me to see is these bikers that get teary eyed when they see the joy of the kids,” at Santa’s arrival.
“I just love this event,” said Citizen Patrol’s Samantha Frady who brought more than 400 Christmas cards made by Olivelands and Briggs schools as well as the after school programs to hand out.
“Each person gets one when they walk out…and that room is filled from floor to ceiling with presents,” she noted.
Saturday’s Santa & Me was the first for Vice Mayor Jenny Crosswhite who found “It’s really fun seeing the kids, the expectation in their eyes,” at meeting Santa.
And there were hundreds of children with plenty of expectations.
“Every year,” said Calla Dominguez, the coordinator of the Police Storefront, “it gets bigger and bigger…it started in 1998 with cupcakes!”
Lupe and George Castaneda were enjoying the crowd that they helped supply with toys, six shopping carts full purchased from the local Rite Aid where Lupe said there was a gigantic toy sale.
Supplying gifts to Santa & Me was a labor of love for the couple — celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary next year — that owned Gil’s Market in the Las Piedras neighborhood from 1963 until 1995.
“These were the best customers and friends you would ever want,” said Lupe, like her husband a Santa Paula native.
“They supported us,” and now, said George, it’s the Castanedas’ turn to show their support of the children and grandchildren of those that had frequented the store in years’ past.
SPPD CSO Martha Reynolds-Brown, who coordinated the event with Dominguez, said almost 700 kids 300 adults, “Almost a thousand in all,” came to Santa & Me where the kids sat on Old St. Nick’s lap and got a special present. SPPD Officer Hector Ramirez again played the Elf.
“We had some stragglers come in after it started raining,” but still had about 35 small toys leftover.
“We had great officers, Explorers, Citizens Patrol and others help and it all went well, a real holiday celebration,” said Reynolds-Brown.
