Santa’s Soldiers : Salvation Army, Sponsors Spread Christmas Cheer

Modesta Martinez has a Christmas tree in her home, which brightens life a bit for the four grandchildren she is struggling to raise following their abandonment by their mother.

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But with her husband’s meager income, Martinez couldn’t afford Christmas presents for the children, who are all under the age of 6, and the area under the tree remained bare.

All that changed Monday when the Salvation Army, operating from a temporary Christmas center at a city maintenance yard in Santa Ana, loaded Martinez’s pickup truck with wrapped Christmas gifts donated through the organization’s Adopt-a-Family program.

“It will be a beautiful Christmas,” said Anaheim resident Martinez as Salvation Army volunteers placed three shiny bicycles in the truck bed, along with several large boxes wrapped in bright Christmas paper. “The children will have happy faces, that’s for sure.”

The Salvation Army, which began charity operations in Orange County more than 100 years ago, expects to give food baskets and gifts to 10,000 county families this Christmas, which is the most ever.

“The need goes up every year,” said Dolores Barrett, who heads social services for the Salvation Army in the county. “And as we become better organized, more sponsors come forward.”

Throughout the day Monday, about 200 families trekked to the Salvation Army’s headquarters here. Mostly single mothers with children, they received Christmas help ranging from cereal and canned goods to sweaters and Barney dolls.

Each family was screened beforehand and asked to fill out a Christmas “wish list” of food and gifts family members needed. Then those lists were given to sponsoring companies, individuals and families who donated the needed items.

“It’s just me and my kids, and I’m out of work so it’s hard for me to buy anything for them,” said Anaheim resident Yolanda Raines, 22, as volunteers filled the back of a friend’s car with toys and food for her and her three children.

The children, ranging in age from 3 years to 8 months, perked up when they saw the Play-Doh, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Sesame Street characters they got to take home with them.

“I’m happy that the Salvation Army could help us this year,” Raines said.

Throughout the week, needy families that are not part of the Adopt-a-Family program will also visit the Salvation Army Christmas center for holiday assistance. Each family will receive a ham or a turkey and trimmings for a complete Christmas meal. Any child 14 or under will also receive an unwrapped gift.

As with the Adopt-a-Family program, all recipients have already registered and will arrive at set times to pick up their holiday baskets.

“I just hope they think someone thinks they’re special,” said Barrett, standing in front of a warehouse full of games, in-line skates, stuffed animals and dolls that will be handed out by the end of the week. “Someone out there cares.”