Members of the Sonoma Valley Holiday Program, a campaign to provide holiday gifts to local families and individuals in need, gets underway with (back row from left) Jann Capone, Michael Beutel, Constance Grizzell, Mara Kahn, Susana Garcia and (front) Lynn Martin.
New gifts and toys are collected, through donation points and gift giving agencies, for qualified families who are referred by schools. Some will qualify for the Adopt A Family/Adopt An Individual program.
Others will be invited to the Holiday Store, where Santa Claus and his elves entertain children (over 500 last year) while personal shoppers help parents to select gifts. The location this year, pop-up style, is 158 West Spain Street. (The old Sonoma Sun office). The empty space was provided to the holiday effort by property owners Valerie and Mike Marino. Find out more, including how to donate and volunteer, at svholiday.org. “It’s a very cool, very heartwarming program,” said Grizell, its founder. “You feel like you’re really doing something.”
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