releases: http://bera.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/bera-volunteers-at-christmas-in-cordova-holiday-toy-drive-for-local
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://bera.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/bera-volunteers-at-christmas-in-cordova-holiday-toy-drive-for-local | Bera volunteers at Christmas in Cordova holiday toy drive for local children, families | 2014-12-23 | 2014 | 2014-12 | Democrat | House | CA | Ami Bera | B001287 | bera.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. and his local staff joined hundreds of volunteers on Saturday, December 20th for the annual Christmas in Cordova event. The Folsom Cordova Community Partnership has been organizing this holiday toy drive for years to help support hundreds of local families and children in need. “It was heartwarming to see how many volunteers came out and donated to help make this year's Christmas in Cordova such an incredible success,” said Bera. "This event is a shining example of our community coming together and I hope it continues to grow in the years to come. My staff and I had a great time getting to know the dedicated volunteers and helping the families who attended." The partnership works with other local non-profits and churches throughout the year to collect food donations, monetary donations, and toys and gifts for children. The event serves families in the community who live paycheck to paycheck and struggle to make ends meet. “The families we serve often are faced with desperate decisions, such as buying food for their children, paying monthly rent and dealing with day-to-day challenges which often increase during the pressures of the holiday season,” said Robert Sanger, Executive Director of the Folsom Cordova Community Partnership. “This year, we were able to help bring cheer to more than 800 families, with more than 4,500 presents donated thanks to all of the support from our partners, the community, and our volunteers." The event featured three different play-care children sections for various age groups so that kids could play while parents went to the ‘toy shop’ to pick out Christmas presents. The gymnasium of Mills Middle School was converted into a toy shop and gift wrap area filled with volunteers ready to wrap and decorate the presents. Parents could select up to three gifts for each child and had the option of getting them giftwrapped before taking them home. In addition to the play-care areas and toy shop, families were treated to a hot lunch and received a basket of food to take home from the Salvation Army. More than 200 volunteers of all ages and experience helped out, many returning volunteers who help at this event every year.Volunteer duties ranged with helping to set up the toy store, greeting families as they arrived, helping parents pick out gifts for their children, wrapping presents, re-stocking and organizing toys, and watching children in play-care areas while parents shopped. Twin sisters and recent graduates of Cordova High School Monique and Monae Newton were among those volunteering. They participated with their friends from the Police Activities League and have taken part in Christmas in Cordova for the last four or five years. "We like volunteering here because it’s just a certain feeling you get of being part of the community and it’s nice knowing that you’re helping someone out,” said Monae. “You can really see the joy when they grab a gift and you get to wrap it for them and really see how it makes their day. It is just that feeling that we enjoy being a part of,” said Monique. Folsom High School junior and another Police Activities League member, Arya Sharma was also a volunteer at the event. “I was impressed that people who can’t afford presents can get them for their kids and that we are able to help them with something they otherwise couldn’t do. If I help other people and make them happy it makes me happy too I said why not just try and come help today," said Sharma. If you are interested in donating or volunteering next year, please contact the Folsom Cordova Community Partnership online at https://www.thefccp.org/ or by phone (916) 361-8684 or email at Info@theFCCP.org. Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. represents Sacramento County. Born and raised in California, Bera is a physician and the only Indian American currently serving in Congress. He’s fighting to rebuild an economy that works for middle class families and to reduce our country’s debt in a responsible way. One of Bera’s first acts in Congress was to help lead the effort to pass the No Budget No Pay Act, which says if members of Congress don’t pass a budget, they don’t get paid. As a leader of the No Labels' Problem Solvers, he’s working with people from both parties to find bipartisan solutions to our nation’s challenges. He and his wife Janine live in Elk Grove with their daughter Sydra. For more updates on Rep. Bera follow @RepBera on Twitter, like Congressman Bera on Facebook, or visit https://www.bera.house.gov. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |