Oxnard Christmas Toy Giveaway Makes Spirits Bright

Cloudy skies and a cool breeze didn’t stop more than 1,500 children and their families from bundling up and going to the Ventura County Rescue Mission on Saturday, where volunteers handed out gifts and sweet treats and offered holiday greetings.

For the 14th consecutive year, the mission on East 6th Street in Oxnard was the place to be for the county’s underprivileged children, ages 1 to 16, whose families struggle to pay even the most basic bills each month.

“For most of these kids, this is the only Christmas they will have,” said Carol Roberg, the mission’s executive director and the force behind the event, this year titled “The Great Christmas Toy Giveaway.”

As one little boy walked by clutching a large wrapped box -- one of the thousands of new toys donated to the cause -- 2-year-old Yolanda Moreno napped on her father’s shoulder in a line that circled the mission.

“Barbie, Barbie shoes, Barbie anything,” said the youngster’s mother, Maria Moreno. “That’s all she talks about.”

Moreno and her husband attended the event for the first time this year. Like many others in the line, they said the effort by mission volunteers was very much appreciated.

“It’s very nice, because some people cannot afford to buy any gifts,” Moreno said as her husband, Alejandro, nodded in agreement.

As in years past, families had to show proof that they were collecting unemployment insurance or receiving another form of public assistance before their children could receive gifts.

Inside the stucco mission, volunteers included community members, some of whom have been donating their time for years, representatives from local police and fire departments and members of a motorcycle group called Bikers for Christ.

To keep families entertained outside -- the event allows groups of 10 children at a time to come in and receive presents -- several entertainers took turns performing.

One popular act was a group of teens called Grace in Action, members of Ventura’s Grace Baptist Church who dress in black and white, paint their faces white and mime various religious stories about the holiday.

Near the end of the line, 12-year-old Ruby Nieto explained that this was her second year at the event. This time, she came with her two sisters and several nieces and nephews. The Lemonwood School sixth-grader said she would appreciate anything she was given.

“It’s Christmas and they give presents, and that’s enough,” Ruby said.