Page 2 - Christmas Tab 2017 e-edition

2 Christmas 2016 December 6 & 7, 2017 Christmas is a festive time at the Reedley Community Center
By Felicia Cousart Matlosz
Mid Valley Publishing
e Reedley Community Center always is a hub for activities, but the Christmas season brings a special feeling of merriment and holiday cheer.
e merriment comes from what Sarah Reid, the superintendent for the Reedley Community Services Department, calls the “very upbeat” atmosphere during the yuletide season at the center at 100 N. East Ave. Fun activities this year include a re-established Christmas Kids Camp that will run Dec. 18-21, Dec. 26-29 and Jan. 2-5.
e holiday cheer comes from the events that help spread joy to families that might not otherwise have a Christmas experience.
Every year, for example, the community services department collaborates with other agencies to present the Toys for Tots event. Toys and other items are provided to families that might not have the means to give their children toys for Christmas.
e event, held at the center just a few days before Christmas Day, exudes a warm and welcoming atmosphere for the families who have signed up for the program. e city department partners with the Toys for Tots Foundation, the Reedley Sunrise Kiwanis Club, the Reedley Police Department, and lots of volunteers.
Felicia Cousart Matlosz/Mid Valley Publishing
Volunteers at the 2016 Toys for Tots event included Reedley High School students Alex Diaz (left) and Selena Garcia. Both were members of the RHS Sports Medicine Club that volunteered at the program.
Oh, and of course, Santa Claus is there, too.
“ is is probably one of my favorite events just because of the smiles on the kids’ faces and them receiving something they probably wouldn’t receive without the
program,” Reid said.
In addition to the toys, the Sunrise Kiwanis group
gives fresh fruit to the families, and the Reedley police organize giving refurbished bicycles to youngsters at the occasion.
is year, the festivities will have new participants to entertain the families – Reedley High School’s Madrigals vocal music ensemble.
“I’m very excited,” said Reid, who sang in her choir at Sanger High School. “I think that’s going to bring even more of a feeling of the holidays by having them sing when we give out the toys.”
It’s also an opportunity to show youngsters an activity they might want to participate in. “A lot of these families may not have seen the group,” Reid said. “If they [the kids] get a desire to want to sing themselves after seeing how fun and entertaining it is, then to me that was well worth it. I always enjoyed that part of my high school career, the choir and performing.”
Reid also is excited about re-establishing the Christmas Kids Camp. e recession of 2008 forced city o cials to stop the program. But in recent years, as budgets improved, city o cials saw an opportunity to o er programs during school vacation breaks. is past Easter break, the community services department operated a one-week camp, and Reid said “it went very
See RCC, Page 5
Merr
ry
y Christmas to all from
015856
015194
BUILDING CENTER
For All Your Building Supplies
1547 “G” St. • Reedley • 638-2512
featuring
orderYour HolidaY taMales & Masa
937 E. Dinuba Ave. Reedley • 637-0612
704 “O” Street • Sanger • 875-6172
Cristal Bakery
Panaderia Y restaurant Mexicano