| Police brighten families' holidays | |
| By
Ken McNeal Staff Writer |
|
Pleasanton - Margarita Bautista's children couldn't wait to put their Christmas presents under the tree - presents they might not have gotten this year without a hand from the Pleasanton Police Officers' Association.
Actually, there are Christmas presents under the tree for six Pleasanton families this year thanks to the officers, who delivered food and gift-wrapped toys and clothing on Friday.
"It means a lot," Bautista, 30, said through a police interpreter. "Because the kids were not going to receive any presents this year."
Like so many families, money has been very tight this year for Margarita and Jorge Bautista.
"The upkeep of the house and paying bills takes up most of the income," Margarita said, "Presents were an afterthought."
The small group of officers were surrounded by Margarita's children Christian, 3, Jesus, 8, and Jorge, 9.
"Can we put them under the tree?," Jorge asked.
His brother Jesus hoped one would contain a Pokemon toy, preferably Meowth.
The children smiled ear to ear spreading the present, wrapped in colorful green, under the branches of the small pine, which was decked in bright red plastic apple ornaments.
The gifts were part of Pleasanton's Christmas Food Basket Program, which helps support single parents and low-income families.
Pleasanton officers and city employees paid for the gifts and volunteered their time to buy, wrap and deliver them, said Community Service Officer Terri Stiner, who organized the give away.
Tri-Valley Herald - Saturday, December 18, 1999