All volunteers working at the donation stations wore masks and gloves and sat behind Plexiglass partitions. Each toy underwent an extreme sanitation process, using a UVC LED handheld sanitizer, upon receipt. The portable wand is rechargeable with a 99.9% sterilization rating. The toys were then taken into a back room for sorting by another group of volunteers so they can be distributed to nonprofits that have requested to be included this year.

Things were certainly different this year but Soboba Foundation President Dondi Silvas said they offered themed days to keep the 50 volunteers in a festive mood. There was an “Ugly Sweater” day and one for “Christmas PJs.” She volunteered for several hours on most of the days.

“Longtime volunteer Joey Placencia was dressed every week with the joy of the Christmas spirit,” Silvas said. Placencia worked a full eight-hour shift every week of the event and said he participates every year as a way of giving back.

“I have a huge family, and to think there are kids out there going without, really tugs at my heart,” he said. “I loved seeing the gratitude from the public, to know that they were happy that we were providing for our communities’ needy children. It brought me a smile and kept us going, even with this pandemic going on.” Tanya Briones and her daughters, 16-year-old Tanya Rivera, 15-year-old Sica Rivera and 14-year-old Luisa Rivera, volunteer every year. They can start doing so at the age of 14, which allows the family to do something worthwhile together.

“The highlight for me is the fact that I know I’m helping families in the community so children don’t go without during the holiday season,” Briones said. “The reason I continue to volunteer every year is because I enjoy helping the community and representing my tribe. I also am able to show my children it’s good to get out in the community and help others when it’s needed.”

The COVID-19 pandemic did affect the number of toys collected – only about half of what has been received in prior years. Distribution of toys was also affected as San Jacinto Unified School District couldn’t host its annual Christmas party and other nonprofits had to give out gifts in a drive-by fashion. “In prior years, we would hold a special event complete with Santa and photo opportunities, along with cookies served by Santa’s Elves,” said Dawn Lawrence, SJUSD’s Communications and Emergency Preparedness Coordinator.

She said this year’s distribution was going to include a decorated entrance with socially distanced greeters but in the style of the district’s meal distribution grab-and-go process for touchless contact. Shortly before the planned event, another stay-at-home order was initiated, and the district had to completely shelve their Plan B for yet another alternative.

“We had one representative from each elementary school come to our warehouse and pick up their school families’ bags of toys (some had assistance with the transport),” Lawrence said. “A very controlled drive-up pick-up was done at each school site for their selected families. This was a tough decision, because we really wanted to decorate and make it fun along the path. We made signs for the sites to use thanking Soboba Gives Back for the toys.”

Lawrence said SJUSD served a minimum of 140 families in the first few years they have been fortunate to be involved with the toy drive program, then it increased to 240 families for a few more years, and now for the past three years up to 400 families or more are being helped.

“Without this program, we would not be able to serve families in this way,” Lawrence said. “In past years, we’ve had other organizations reach out to us with holiday food baskets, but generally only to serve under 25 families. This toy distribution is extremely important to our youngest students and their families. It is also a highlight at the close of the calendar year, when we say goodbye to our students for a three-week school break.” Hemet Unified School District is involved for the first time this year and Public Information Officer Alexandrea Sponheim said school site staff have done a wonderful job staying connected to all families so they could identify which ones could benefit most from the Soboba Gives Back! Toy Drive.

“We are so excited and grateful that Soboba invited us to participate,” she said. “Pandemic restrictions have caused us to think differently in how we serve our families. Since the pandemic began, we have been able to provide a drive-thru style meal distribution, which will be our plans for the toy distribution. We feel extremely grateful that Soboba is providing toys to our families. Our families have struggled a lot this year and we know that this will provide a much-needed bright spot in our families’ year. As a staff member, being a part of the distribution of toys will definitely be a highlight of my year!”

Divine Appointment Worship Center Senior Pastor Brian E. Hawkins said receiving toys they can distribute to children in the San Jacinto community during their Christmas party at Mistletoe Park is a true blessing. My City Youth Center Community Specialist Erika London said receiving 100 amazing gifts this year helped serve all the children in their program, ranging from babies to teens.

“We were able to bless every child,” she said. “We have been able to offer onsite after-school programming since quarantine. Obviously, we have a few new protocols in place, but we were able to move most classes outside, maintain distancing and institute screening practices that allowed us to continue to serve the children in this community. Also, we held monthly drive-thru events that allowed us to interact and serve children continually.” On Dec. 17, the Hemet nonprofit held a drive-thru gift distribution where children got to see Santa and receive their personalized gifts along with some Christmas snacks.

“Soboba’s generosity is deeply cherished here at the Youth Center,” London said. “With their provision and love, we get the opportunity to add extra attention to some of our community’s most vulnerable children. The giving from Soboba really helps us spread good cheer and holiday joy. Soboba really helped make a difference.”

-Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians • Contributed

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The remaining days of the drive are Nov. 24 and Dec. 1 and 8 from 12 to 8 p.m. For each toy, valued at $20 or more, donors will receive a voucher for $40 in free slot play at the casino. There is a limit of one coupon per customer, per day. All visitors to the casino must be wearing an approved mask – no gaiters or bandanas are allowed – and have their temperature checked at the entrance. Floor signs direct guests to the toy drive at the east end of the facility.

Every donor was greeted with cheers and applause as they came in to drop of their carefully selected toys. Donna Banta and her daughter Christy Banta, both of Hemet, said they look forward to this event every year.

“We’ve been coming since it began,” Donna Banta said. “We do it to give toys for the kids. This is a really tough year and this program will help a lot.”

The pair said they often bring a boy-friendly toy one week and a girl-friendly toy the following week and try to make sure they are the newest toys that kids are wanting each year. On Nov. 10, they both brought in a Baby Yoda toy.

“We usually spend about two or three hours in the casino after we drop off the toys – it’s something we like to do together,” Christy Banta said.

All volunteers working at the donation stations wear masks and gloves and sit behind Plexiglass partitions. Each toy undergoes extreme sanitation, using a UVC LED handheld sanitizer, upon receipt and before it is stacked behind the check-in tables. The wand is portable and rechargeable with a 99.9% sterilization rating. The toys are then taken into a back room for sorting by another group of volunteers so they can be distributed to nonprofits that have requested to be included this year.

This is the first year that Hemet Unified School District has been able to join in the fun of the Soboba Gives Back! Toy Drive.

“We are so excited and grateful that Soboba has invited us to participate,” HUSD Public Information Officer Alexandrea Sponheim said. “Despite not having the opportunity to physically see our students, our school site staffs have done a wonderful job staying connected to our families. Between our Parent Liaisons, counselors, teachers and front office staff, they have been able to identify our families that are struggling and may need extra support.”

She said the toy distribution will take place drive-thru style, which the district has done with its meal distributions since the pandemic began.

“We feel extremely grateful that Soboba is providing toys to our families,” Sponheim said. “Our families have struggled a lot this year and we know that this will provide a much-needed bright spot in our families’ year. As a staff member, being a part of the distribution of toys will definitely be a highlight of my year!”

In the past, San Jacinto Unified School District has made a community tradition out of the much-appreciated toys provided from Soboba’s drive. The ever-popular “Unstuff the Bus” event had to be canceled this year due to the pandemic, but the district will still receive its share of toys to distribute to its neediest schoolchildren.

At the Nov. 10 SJUSD school board virtual meeting, the district recognized the Soboba Tribal Council and the Soboba Foundation for their generosity and support through the Soboba Turkey Giveaway, the Soboba Charity Golf Tournament and the Soboba Gives Back! Toy Drive as well as its generous support of the Hemet-San Jacinto Student of the Month Program, which is now in its eighth year.

“These are only a few of the programs Soboba supports on an annual basis but we want them to know we appreciate everything,” said Gale Hill, Executive Assistant to the Board of Trustees and Superintendent.

Sherry Smith, SJUSD Assistant Superintendent, Personnel Services said the crystal award being presented was a “super small token of our appreciation.”

“This is a recognition that is long, long overdue so I’m very excited that this evening we finally, with all of the crazy pandemic in our life, we are going to be able to recognize the continuous support and generosity that we receive from Soboba,” she said. “There are no words to describe how valued we feel and how fortunate that we have this partnership with (Soboba).”

She introduced the representatives of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians who attended the Zoom meeting. From Tribal Council: Chairman Isaiah Vivanco, Vice Chairwoman Geneva Mojado, Secretary Monica Herrera and Treasurer Sally Moreno-Ortiz and from Soboba Foundation: President Dondi Silvas, Vice President Jacob Briones and Treasurer Julie Parcero.

“All of these people are beyond special,” Smith said. “I have a list a mile long to talk about all the amazing things they are doing or have done for us. Even in these unprecedented times, Soboba has stepped up as they always do to help us give back to our families”

Vivanco said he appreciated the recognition and was honored to receive the award on behalf of the Tribe and said, “We don’t do these things for the accolades – we enjoy the partnerships we are able to create.”

Silvas said she is working with all the other volunteers at this year’s toy drive to make it a special year for all the kids in the community and said, “It is our pleasure to have such a strong relationship with San Jacinto Unified.”

For more information about the Soboba Gives Back! Toy Drive, please visit www.soboba.com.

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What to Know

• In the past, fire stations citywide were open for toy collections, but because of coronavirus public health restrictions, the options were reduced to the seven sites.
• Gifts for infants up to 16-year-olds are needed.
• The toy drive is on now through Christmas Eve.

Riverside firefighters inaugurated their annual campaign to collect gifts for underprivileged children throughout the city, asking residents who can afford to make a donation to drop blankets, sports gear and unwrapped toys at any one of multiple “Spark of Love” toy drive locations.

“With love and support of donors and sponsors, we have been able to help over 5,000 kids each year receive a new toy during the holiday season,” Riverside Fire Marshal Jennifer McDowell said. “We hope to make that happen again this year with the help of your donations.”

The toy drive, which is supported by fire agencies throughout Southern California, will run through Dec. 24. The focus is on gifts for infants up to 16-year-olds.

In Riverside, seven locations have been specifically designated as drop-off points:

• Chavez Community Center, 2060 University Ave.
• Dales Senior Center, 3936 Chestnut St.
• La Sierra Community Center, 5215 La Sierra Ave.
• Orange Terrace Community Center, 20010 Orange Terrace Parkway
• Renck Community Center, 4015 Jackson St.
• Stratton Community Center, 2008 MLK Blvd.
• Villegas Community Center, 3091 Esperanza St.

In the past, fire stations citywide were open for toy collections, but because of coronavirus public health restrictions, McDowell said the options were reduced to the seven sites.

Along with sports paraphernalia, bed ware and toys, gift cards are also welcome, according to the fire marshal.

She said staff from the Riverside Parks, Recreation & Community Services Department will begin distributing gifts before Christmas.

More information is available at RiversideCA.gov/Park_Rec.

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