City Employees Provide Food, Clothing and Toys to the Less Fortunate
Perishables and Canned Good Baskets
The City of South Gate Employee Relations Committee's (ERC's)annual coordination of the Perishables and Canned Good Food Baskets went very smoothly. With the help of so many staff members and the physical labor provided by the ERC, Parks, Community Development and Public Works staff, they were able to deliver 38 food baskets to needy families in our City.Each year the the ERC provides food baskets to the elderly and families in need of assistance.
In addition to the food baskets, donations of toys and clothing were made by Julio Munoz of Munoz Trucking and other local entities. The employees were pleased to add toys and clothing to what is usually provided.
Employees Grant Holiday Gift Wishes to Foster Care Children
South Gate Employees brought gifts and gift cards for 50 foster care children of the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services, City of Commerce Office. Employees eagerly volunteered to purchase gifts for children ranging from 2 months to 17 years old who are currently involved in the Social Services programs of this and neighboring cities. Gifts included educational and computer toys, fairy tale dress up clothing, scooters, scrap booking supplies and cameras. This is the second year that the City of South Gate employees participated in this worth while cause.
Santa Cop on the Road Again
The South Gate Police Department conducted the Santa Cop Program again this year for the families of South Gate who are in need of assistance during the holiday period. The Santa Cop Program started over 11 years ago with just four families and has grown to the point where the program reached out to over 100 families for the 2007 holiday season.
Families in need during the holiday season are made aware of the program through word of mouth and information sent out through the schools in South Gate. The families that participate in the Santa Cop program are identified by completing an application and speaking to police department personnel who volunteer their time for the program.
In 2007, South Gate Police Department employees spent several hundred hours of their time organizing and arranging for this year's event. On December 15th and 16th, over 100 families were visited by Santa Claus and his helpers throughout the day. Through donations from businesses and police department employees the Santa Cop Program was able to distribute over 1,000 toys and gifts to approximately 325 needy children in the City of South Gate this year.