Central Los Angeles : Parents Get to Pick Out Gifts for Their Children
Low-income and homeless parents from Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles are having a free shopping spree for their children at the Union Rescue Mission Christmas Store this week.
As the children are entertained by Santa Claus and volunteers, parents choose two gifts for each child from toys, books, clothes and sports equipment. The gifts are then wrapped so parents can keep them a secret until Christmas.
More than 3,000 gifts were donated by churches, businesses and individuals, mission spokeswoman Cori Barron said.
More than 1,000 families from downtown hotels, MacArthur Park and the Aliso Village and Pico Aliso housing projects will pick up gifts this year, mission youth director John Mendez said.
Maria Lopez, 12, one of nine brothers and sisters, is both a volunteer at the Christmas Store and a gift recipient.
“I like it because when children see their mom getting gifts, they are happy. I like seeing little kids happy,” Lopez said.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
