Volunteers Wrap Up Brighter Christmas for Local Families

Ribbons and bows and boxes covered in brilliant reds and greens were strewn about the Cotati Room early Saturday morning as roughly 80 volunteers wrapped thousands of gifts with sparkling, dazzling and other assorted rolls of holiday paper, for this year's holiday toy drive — now in its 13th year.

Volunteers from various communtiy organizations on hand included the Rotary Clubs of Rohnert Park-Cotati and Rancho Cotati, the Rohnert Park-Cotati Chapter of Realtors, Alpha Delta Pi sorority from Sonoma State, Cotati police and fire were as well as various other community members. Many said it was the season of giving that spurred donations for the event.

They're making Christmas possible for a family who may not be able to afford one, volunteers said.

And this year, organizers said more families requested help for kids Christmas gifts than any other year.

"We've got 130 families this year and 400-500 kids," said Bob Stewart, the community service director for the Rotary Club of Rohnert Park-Cotati. "Last year we only had about 100 families and about 300 kids."

Stewart said the recession has clearly taken a toll on this year's toy drive.

"We've seen less donations this year, in addition to more applications," he said. "So need was definitely up. It's a good thing we have some reserves of toys from last year."

Each year, families who need assistance in making Christmas possible for their kids submit applications to Rotary. The toys are then wrapped by volunteers and delivered to local doorsteps a week later by Santa and his elves.

Amal Samatar, 16, is in Technology High's Interact Club — Rotary for high-schoolers. She flashed a bright smile when she said "of course" she didn't mind getting up early, as her hands worked busily sorting black garbage bags filled with unwrapped gifts.

"I decided to come help because there's kids in need," Samatar said. "And I get community service hours."

Elizabeth Perine, an Sonoma State University junior majoring in English, was there with about 20 of her other "sisters."

"A few of us came last year and it was a lot of fun," she said. "We do it because it's for a good cause."

Next Saturday, four "Santas" will join about 50 other "elves" to deliver toys to the families who've applied, and who live in Rohnert Park, Cotati or Penngrove. Other toys will be handed out along the way to area kids who happen to spot the big guy.