‘Share-iffs’ Deputies Distribute Food, Toys to Needy Residents

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department is doing its share to spread the spirit of Christmas.

As part of its annual Share-iff Program, deputies and a group of volunteers have distributed dozens of boxes of food and toys to needy residents across the county.

The toys, made by Ventura County Jail inmates with materials donated by local businesses, included wooden cars and trucks, dolls and doll beds. Most of the food donations came from sheriff’s personnel and community organizations.

During a presentation before the supervisors Tuesday, Sheriff Larry Carpenter said that many of the people who received donations are living in dire conditions. He said some were housed in garages, others in shacks with dirt floors.

“Those are touching deliveries, to say the least,” Carpenter said. “It kind of brings it back to why we’re all here.”

Oxnard resident Antonia Solazzo said she greatly appreciated the dolls given to her children, April, 7, and Cheyenne, 4.

Carpenter said that inmates who made the toys also should be given credit for their work.

Inmate Frankie McBee, 20, said he enjoyed painting the wooden toys because he knew the gifts were going to needy children.

“It’s a great feeling,” he said. “I have kids of my own, so I know what it’s like at Christmastime.”