Navidad en el Barrio gives a thousand kids a Merry Christmas
By
KGNS News
Story Created:
Dec 17, 2009
Story Updated:
Dec 17, 2009
More than a thousand needy kids got the chance to have a Merry Christmas today, all thanks to an annual toy drive that keeps getting bigger and better every year.
" Every year it gets better and we increase the number of students."
"Close to three thousand children got gifts this year and constable Rudy Rodriguez says he is hoping to reach out to at least five thousand for next year."
The founder for Navidad en el Barrio says he is thankful to the Laredo community for all the donations.
This year sponsors dropped their donations significantly.
For example only half the meals were donated.
The rest had to be bought by organizers, a sign of the struggling economy: "I think what helps us is that we are a nonprofit organization and people know their money will go to a good cause."
Such a good cause that each kid gets five gifts and some students even get a bicycle.
Teachers were seen checking their list twice to make sure each kids had a gift.
New this year: laptops. Students eleven and twelve years of age that won an essay competition actually received a computer.
"Some of these students would not open their gifts here at the LEC, they'll take it home and they'll tell you that’s all they'll have for Christmas."
A Christmas present that the Constable's office was able to pull off finding ways to raise money.
"I hope all political views are put aside and think about those children that will not open a gift this Christmas."
Close to two thousand children from United ISD will receive toys tomorrow in the second day of the event.
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Anonymous said on Thursday, Dec 17 at 10:39 AM
Laredo has made Yahoo’s featured stories. If you click on the arrow where the featured stories are you’ll eventually bump into a picture of Laredo’s B Dalton. The article talks about the city being the only one with a large population without a bookstore. It’s embarrassing but good (the country needs to know how our politicians abuse the system). Read it, tell everyone you know.
33841517Nydia Tijerina said on Friday, Dec 18 at 7:03 PM
I would like to thank Constable Rodriguez and the organizers of Navidad en el Barrio for making this event possible every year. We have a lot of students who are needy, and others who have a harsh environment at home. Some of them had given up on the idea of Christmas or even getting presents this year. Thanks to you, their lives were brightened and they were able to catch the spirit of Christmas again.
33948554Enough said on Saturday, Dec 19 at 1:34 PM
Great! I am glad so many disadvantaged kids got gifts. Next, they should probably give parents the gift of birth control so they do not keep having kids they cannot afford and force them to live in poverty. Lastly, the parents can receive the gift of a job so that next year they can provide gifts for their own children (like everyone else) and not expect others to take care of their kids. Just an opinion...
33982941jennifer said on Saturday, Nov 6 at 3:07 PM
im so happy to announce that my 2 nieces were chosen this year in Houston for this project it would of been hard for my sister to provide other wise she has 6 kids and my 2 nieces are such good students perfect attendance and A-B honor roll. they know school is the solution to a better life thank u so much for being able to provide for them this coming christmas
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