Hundreds of cars slowly filed through the annual Christmas Giveaway put on by Casa de la Cultura in Pajaro on Tuesday.
In collaboration with a list of supporting groups, organizers aim to bolster low-income residents, especially farmworkers, during the holidays, with food, clothing, wrapped gifts, new coats and other goods.
Executive Director Sister Rosa Dolores Rodriguez, who has been organizing the giveaway since 1991, said she started the day in a heavy downpour but noticed it didn’t dampen the spirits of those putting it on.
“This morning we came out and it was pouring rain, but there was a line of cars all the way to Railroad Avenue,” she said. “I see it as a spirit of Christmas, of joy for the kids to see Santa and the Disney characters. There’s so much caring and warmth that makes this happen each year.” She added that this year 300 vehicles came through and toys and clothing were handed out to 420 children.
Staged at Marinovich Cold Storage, those driving through enjoyed six stops along a route dotted with Christmas trees, Santa’s sleigh, and flowers while a lengthy list of popular Christmas tunes, in English and Spanish, belted out from a sound system.
At the first stop, volunteers loaded their vehicles with bags of food, including frozen chickens, fruit and vegetables.
The next stop offered a visit with Santa and his helpers, who handed out wrapped gifts, thanks to a crew of volunteers from Driscoll’s.
Jenna Rodriguez of Driscoll’s said their Adopt an Angel program has, for years, provided wrapped age-specific gifts for all children filing through.
“It feels so good to be a part of this program,” she said. “It’s a very special day.”
At the next stop a crowd of giant Disney characters surrounded the vehicles and shared high-fives, handshakes, photo-ops and smiles.
Next, a large crowd from two groups of the Knights of Columbus of Watsonville and a group from Aptos, handed out 672 new coats to kids from carefully organized racks of sizes so each child was able to choose their own size, color and style. Grand Knight Rick Sanchez said the Knights were proud to be a part of the event.
Sister Rosa said a farmer from the San Joaquin Valley donated several pallets of apples this year.
She added that donations poured in from Lakeside Organic Gardens, Second Harvest Food Bank, Sunridge Farms, La Rosa Bakery, Cilantro’s, Loaves and Fishes and others.
