Sharing, Caring in Spirit of Holiday

Rosamaria Aguilar was convinced she saw the real Santa Claus on Monday at a pre-Christmas party at Fire Department headquarters in Orange.

The 9-year-old girl told her mother that the jolly, red-suited, white-bearded man had to be real, because he gave her a present.

“She is so excited,” Rosamaria’s mother, Juana Aguilar, said.

Aguilar, her daughter and two sons took part in the third annual Orange Cares for Children Christmas Program, which helps families in need celebrate the holiday with gifts and food.

“These are probably the only gifts my kids will be getting this year,” Aguilar said about the wrapped presents her children received. “My kids are so happy, and I’m very thankful.”

More than 100 guests ate a pancake breakfast and had their pictures taken with Santa at the party sponsored by the city, local businesses, volunteers, firefighters and nonprofit organizations.

Elsewhere around the county, volunteers have been distributing presents, food and clothing to thousands of underprivileged children.

Fire departments are sponsoring the “Spark of Love” campaign in which firefighters collect presents and distribute them to children from low-income families at Christmas parties in their fire stations.

Volunteer Carmen Saldana, an Orange recreation supervisor who helped organize the Orange Cares party, said: “We try to do as much for the community as we can. It’s a festive occasion, one that everyone should enjoy.”