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| Holiday helpers step up |
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| Written by Maddy Houk / Patterson Irrigator | |
| Saturday, 22 December 2007 | |
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Individuals, community groups, clubs and churches stepped forward in full force this year to help community members in need with gifts and toys.  Kelly White (clockwise from right), Cristina Jasso, Gloria Pinedo, Annette Harmon, Wendi Ramirez and Dorlene Durham wrap presents and place them under the tree. Photo by Elias Funez / Patterson Irrigator Local residents joined together for last-minute Santa help by wrapping and delivering Christmas gifts . “We’ve had a lot of response with donations — people were coming out of the woodwork with coats,” said Ellen Calmettes, president of the Patterson-Westley Chamber of Commerce. “Our goal is that every child has a gift.” Calmettes sat at her desk at US Bank amidst a sea of coats, jackets, toys and bicycles on Wednesday afternoon. Chamber secretary Debbie Calcote, her husband, Gary Calcote and teens Jessica Petty, Kim McGarry and Stephanie Sanchez had wrapped gifts throughout the week and placed the presents under the bank tree for distribution today. Even after the St. Vincent De Paul Society of Sacred Heart Catholic Church distributed gifts to 800 children last weekend, the Westside Community Resource Center had a waiting list of folks who needed help, so the chamber and other local groups stepped forward. The resource center works with local groups in linking them to families in need. The California School Employees Association from Patterson Unified School District also lent a hand and will distribute gifts this weekend. “We just want these families to have an extra special Christmas,” said Gloria Pinedo, president of the CSEA. Meanwhile, Patterson High School senior Ray Salinas visited families this week with gifts as part of his P.R.E.P. Project. PREP, aka Patterson Required Exit Program, is a requirement for PHS graduation. Students must do a community service project, create a career portfolio and then present the results before a panel of community members. Salinas, son of Maria Gutierrez and Ramiro Salinas, had “Giving Trees” at Touchdown Pizza, Hair Reflections, Bella Luna Hair Salon and Patterson City Hall. The trees have tags for the “wants and needs” of 13 families referred from Westside Community Alliance.  Stephanie Sanchez (left), Kim McGarry and Jessica Petty wrap gifts at US Bank for the Chamber of Commerce toy and coat drive. Photo by Maddy Houk / Patterson Irrigator Salinas and his mentor, Albertina Reynoso of the Westside Resource Center, worked for three weeks on the project and delivered the gifts over a three-day period this week. “I wanted to do something different and help out the community,” Salinas said. “I decided to do the gift giving. It took me three days and three carloads, because some of the families weren’t home the first time. It was a good experience knowing I was the only one giving them their only gift for Christmas.” Salinas said that until he completed his project and saw the families in need, he wanted to attend college at Arizona State University and study to be an airline pilot. After doing the project he changed his mind — wants to attend California State University, Stanislaus, and major in communications. “Now, I’m thinking of staying around here and helping out in the community,” Salinas said Reynoso said it is busy around holiday season, but she was glad to help Salinas with his project. “I was pleased to do it,” Reynoso said, “especially to guide Ray on his path to success.” Over the past month, individuals, service groups, churches, the Westside Food Pantry, FAITH Food Bank of Stanislaus County Inc. and St. Vincent DePaul Society helped residents with food baskets. Some residents took part in the giving trees such as Salinas’ and picked individual tags from trees that told a child’s wants and needs, while others did a one-on-one and took individual families shopping for the holidays. The chamber of commerce put barrels in a dozen local businesses to collect jackets and toys over the past month. Though the community response was overwhelming, Calmettes and Calcote would have liked more participation. “I’d really like to see more cooperation and more help from the businesses that are chamber members,” Calmettes said. To reach Maddy Houk at the Irrigator, call 892-6187 or e-mail her at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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