Joy of Christmas

Think your Christmas shopping list is long? Try fulfilling the needs and desires of 144 families and more than 400 children.

And try checking that list twice.
The Family Resource Center and the Salvation Army teamed up for the annual Christmas Angel program, which has helped Coolidge families enjoy the holidays for the past 18 years. The program provided Christmas dinners and gift packages for 144 families this year.

A bevy of volunteers gathered last week to take on the arduous – but rewarding – task of gathering age- and gender-appropriate gifts, organizing food baskets, and delivering Christmas cheer to local families in need. Judging by the hearty hams in the food baskets, parents will be pleased. Judging by the bicycles, stuffed animals and compact disc players loaded into gift bundles, kids should be downright ecstatic.

Rosie Murrieta, a case manager with the FRC, said she had “lost count” when the number of children touched by the program exceeded 400.

“The donations just poured in this year,” she said.

A nice bonus for the volunteers this year was a change in venue. For years, Garrett Motors has offered an old company warehouse for the Christmas Angel program to store and organize its gifts and food items. The only problem: the efforts had to end when it got dark outside, and in case you didn’t notice, it tends to get pretty cold in December. This year, the program shifted its operations to the board room at the Coolidge Unified School District office.

“Being able to have a warm spot to work in was nice,” said Dr. Bonnie Palmer, FRC director. “We are certainly deeply grateful to Garrett’s for allowing us to use the warehouse all these years, but it was nice to work until 8 p.m. with plenty of light and bathrooms.”

Palmer said a crew of winter visitors really stepped up to the plate, many of them working 12-hour days to ensure that needy local families received a dose of Christmas spirit.

“And operating out of the district office involved a lot more principals and administrators, several of whom went out on deliveries,” Palmer said. With school not letting out until Dec. 23, Palmer said it was difficult to enlist the help of programs such as the Coolidge High School basketball team that have traditionally aided the Christmas Angel festivities. But no worry; after all, it is Christmas.

“It’s always the case: people step up to help,” she said.

The Christmas Angel Fund, opened by the Coolidge Chamber of Commerce several years ago to provide funding for additional necessities, collected an astounding $2,400 from the community this year. That tremendous outpouring of support allowed Palmer to spend roughly $1,000 for gifts and food – with $1,400 left over for next year, a huge boost to the program.

“The rest of the community really came forth and poured their hearts out,” she said. “Blankets were taken care of through Stockmen’s Bank, and several people came in with checks.

“I think all of the kids are going to have a good Christmas.”

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