Rain Ruins Presents for Needy Oxnard Children

The Salvation Army’s goal to give Christmas gifts to the children of Oxnard’s 500 neediest families appeared threatened this week when rain that leaked through a roof ruined hundreds of toys in a storage room.

Volunteers are working overtime in an attempt to salvage the Christmas Family Basket program before time runs out, said Pamela White, the program’s director.

White said she felt heartsick when she first viewed the soggy remains of the 500 toys drenched by the winter storm.

“I just wanted to cry,” said White, adding that the disaster had wiped out much of the work accomplished during the program’s first four weeks.

Within days, however, volunteers helped salvage 200 of the damaged toys, and Oxnard developer Martin Smith loaned the Salvation Army new, watertight quarters, White said.

Only one week remains for people to drop off gifts at the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree near the Sears store in the Esplanade Mall. Gifts may also be dropped off at the corps’ Oxnard headquarters at 138 W. Hill St., and checks may be mailed to the same address.

Among the recommended gifts are school backpacks, basketballs, footballs, purses, jewelry, decorative hair clips, board games, roller skates and skateboards.

Donors who wish to contribute more can participate in the Salvation Army’s Adopt A Family program, in which they buy gifts for the entire family and provide a holiday dinner, White said.

For further information, call the Salvation Army’s Oxnard office at 483-9235.