Leno's Ricos Tacos Becomes Santa's Workshop

The back lot at Leno’s Rico Tacos in Colton became a satellite workshop site for Santa last Saturday. Elves could be seen scurrying to and fro, readying toys and stockings full of goodies for the children of Colton. Keeping a close watch on all the activities was Gloria Gaona, founder and president of Seeds of Hope Resources and Family Development Center, alongside her daughter-in-law, Angelina Gaona, who had coordinated and organized the giant event with a “double whammy” effort. “This event is planned to help the working poor,” said Gloria Gaona, “So many times they are forgotten or excluded because of having a job. Since just making a living can be hard, sometimes extras like Christmas gifts are not affordable, so that’s where our Christmas campaign comes in.” Earlier on in the year, applications for gifts were available at the Seeds of Hope office at 582 W. Valley and through the Colton Joint Unified School District. Parents completed the applications, which were verified and then appointment cards were given out for the gift pick up time. This was the second year that Leno and Liz Moreno had opened up this location to the project. Moreno explained, “Our policy has always been that you must give to receive. That has always worked for us, so here we are and we will continue to do it.” Assembly member Cheryl R. Brown and staff members had come by to pitch in helping stuff stockings full of goodies and to drop off over $1,000 worth of toys purchased by Brown to help support the event. After a short visit with Santa, Brown shared, “I feel so honored that I am allowed to participate in this community gathering. Just look at how happy the children’s faces are. These are the things that produce good memories, and those memories last us when things aren’t going so good.” Looking around with a big smile, she added, “Kids with good memories are successful in life.” Some of the sponsors of the day busied themselves organizing toys, helping to stuff stockings and encouraging the parents who came to the toy pick up. Tony Soto, president of the Colton Pony Baseball league, had come bearing the gifts donated at his league’s tournament games for the cause. Restored to Life Ministry of San Bernardino had brought members and their Pastor Sam to help out with the final table, where the chosen gifts were gift wrapped for the families. Music was provided by DJ TommyV and vocal karaoke entertainment was sung by Madeline Martinez, a solo artist. The big hit of the morning was the booth made available by the Kids Workshop staff members from Home Depot of Rialto. Children waiting for their parents to go through the toy process came over and were able to build a project while they were waiting. The sound of hammers and laughter surrounded their booth and finished projects were shown off with great pride. At the completion of their project, the children were given a Kids Workshop pin to commemorate their finishing the whole job. Alex Barajas had brought some of his H & R Block team members out to the Christmas giveaway as part of the company’s efforts of partnering with the local communities. They were raffling off a $50 voucher towards this upcoming year’s tax preparation and had donated toys in excess of $500 that had been collected in a challenge between the San Bernardino and Riverside H & R Block offices. The event was supported by many local organizations and individuals and was summed up best by the words of one of the parents, Christine Adams, who had heard about the event through Grant Elementary School and was there to pick up gifts for her two children. It had been a tough year for her family, with her husband having had three open heart surgeries, herself suffering from a congenital heart condition, a car that broke down and a refrigerator that went on the blink, Christmas was not going to happen for her children this year, she explained, but as she held the gifts for her girls in her arms, she pointed to one of the elves and said, “It’s because of people like this that my family’s Christmas will be so blessed this year. Oh my gosh, without them, what would I have done?”