In 1993, a small group of volunteer and career firefighters from the community of Pedley began supporting families with toys... and food during the holiday season. Within a few years, firefighters from the communities of Pedley, Glen Avon, Mira Loma, Rubidioux, and West Riverside joined together to support the greater community of Jurupa Valley. As the community grew, so did the need and by 2005 the program began to transition into a community based 501C3 organization. By 2009, the annual holiday adoption program was providing food, household supplies, health and beauty aids, and toys to over one hundred families and one hundred and fifty senior citizens. Partnering with the County of Riverside Fire Department Spark of Love program, the organization began to lead collaborative efforts to support numerous local non-profits and today provides toys to as many as seven thousand and five hundred children a year.
Over the years the board of directors began recognizing they were supporting different generations of the same family. Knowing that while their annual efforts brought joy to families during the holidays, it didn't truly address the cycle of poverty keeping families dependent on assistance from generation to generation. In 2015, the vision and mission of the organization changed and the program became known as the Jurupa Valley Adopt a Family Program. The new program would include two elements: the annual Santa Express and Adopt a Family program and the newly commissioned Opportunity Development program.
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Twenty years ago, the firefighters of the Jurupa Valley organized an Adopt a Family program that has become an annual event where we provide food, clothing, hygiene aids, school supplies, Christmas decorations, and of course toys to the needy families of the City of Jurupa Valley. Today, with active community support, we join Santa Claus in delivering the items to these families over several days just prior to Christmas. Families are chosen only after meeting strict eligibility guidelines. Since its inception, we have supported over a thousand families and brought holiday cheer to tens of thousands of children. We also were able to provide toys for the County Foster program that can be used to provide birthday and special holiday presents for over five hundred children.
In all, we filled over one thousand six hundred grocery bags with food, cleaning supplies, hygiene items and other general household necessities. Children in each of the adopted families received school supplies as well. We also provided bicycles and helmets to numerous children and met some special needs that were identified. This program would not be successful if it were not for the help of the wonderful community it serves, our family and friends and to each of you that donated time, money, or merchandise.
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After the Santa Express had passed by my neighborhood smack dab in the Indian Hills golf course, I was eager to know if the organization that showed each year accepted participants/volunteers. Especially one that just so happens to be a cosplayer with a specific and favorite costume to go about in the winter season for some good old holiday cheer. I was super ecstatic to hear that they did after a fast response on Facebook and couldn't wait for the week after.
Before heading out towards the bus that would take us to our parade destination, I meet North AKA Santa Claus while snagging a couple of chocolate peppermint fudge cookies. After that small chat with him, it made the beginning of my night even better.
Santa: "Hello, Jack! Are you ready to have some fun tonight?"
Me: "Of course! Oh yeah, I'm still on the Naughty List?"
Santa: "Oh, you're at the very top, but for tonight, I'm wiping you a clean slate."
Friday, the Santa Express was scheduled for Glen Avon and the far north portion of Indian Hills. They were all amazing! For my first night, I was put on the Frozen float due to lack of characters: Hans and Kristoff with only Elsa and Anna to perform to selected songs while I just did my thing of being in character. Elsa was freezing in her dress with such sheer fabric and was surprised by how I was handling the weather, feeling my face and frowning that my cheeks were still really warm.
We started off in the bus lane of my old middle school JMS and went down my boyfriend's neighborhood. He had told me the morning after that he didn't see me nor heard the sirens of the firetrucks. I thought possibly he was too exhausted from work and that he had crashed on his bed. He's the type that knocks out quick and is a heavy sleeper. Perhaps Mr. Sandman gave him a good dream? Then we hit my friend Matt's neighborhood. Luckily, he did see me! I couldn't make out anyone in particular for going blind and not wearing my glasses, but he did mention that his house wasn't decorated yet and had no Christmas lights up, thus the reason why it was so dark. Coming back to the middle school, there was a large crowd that awaited us. I'm guessing that the choir students had a holiday field trip and didn't get back till later that evening. Young boys and girls cheered at our float and snapped photos. I had the most awkward request to whip and nae nae from a section. I did so anyway and the crowd went wild.
I started to feel the cool kiss of air nip at my nose and seep through the layers beneath my costume somewhat near the end of the block and walking to the bus stop to be picked up and brought back to headquarters. I rushed inside feeling the blast of the heater running then after a while I saw everyone off and walked my way home in the darkness. It wasn't that far since I live relatively close by, but the chilling breeze made walking tough.
A huge thank you to everyone who came out and supported us. We were excited to see so many very large groups waiting to greet us. We also have a new "most generous neighborhood for 2015". Congratulations Glen Avon route, you're the new leader for being so awesomely generous.
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Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad. Sky Country had a wonderful crowd and I had so much fun waiving to the crowds that lined up the streets and seeing the kids faces beam when they saw that Jack Frost actually does exist and that he's indeed real. Though I practically shivered the entire time clinging on the back of North's sleigh, I wondered how the hell Jack Frost does it then instantly remembered; oh yeah, the cold doesn't bother him. Did you get that reference? Even though, I was more than happy to fill in his shoes... Oh wait! That's right, he doesn't wear shoes.
Riding behind North, he did occasionally make jokes and poke fun at me.
Santa: "Oh, look Mrs. Claus, if I remember correctly that one is on the Naughty List with Jack!"
Santa: "I think Jack could use some of that fire over there. Warm him up a bit. He's so cold back there, he's spitting out a flurry."
I most definitely think Saturday, the second and final night of the Santa Express for me was even more frigid than the first. Oh my goodness. Brrr! It was so cold, I actually had to take a break in the trailer cab up ahead from North's sleigh and slowly warm myself back up for that little half of the three hour duration. I had been gracious enough to get a heated blanket from one of the supervisors that had quickly checked up on my condition and felt my shaking hands and numb barefoot feet.
A big thank you for the generosity and kindness of delicious cupcakes, cookies, hot chocolate, and a nice hot fire to keep even the coldest person in the world warm and kindled. You not only touched my heart, but filled my belly for I hadn't eaten a single thing that day and only had a mug of butterscotch toffee coffee that morning and later walked out of the house garnered in cosplay headed towards headquarters down the street. I was grateful enough to get a ride home by one of the supervisor's who was also concerned about my well-being and safety.
