Clínica Romero turns into Winter Wonderland

Report Issue

Please complete the required fields.

Your Name

Email

Reason (required)
This post contains broken linksPost has incorrect informationPost has spamCopyright IssueOther

Description

Submit

On Saturday hundreds of families lined up early in the morning to get the type of help one needs around this time of the year: Christmas cheer.

The organization that’s been helping the community for over 50 years holds annual toy distribution benefiting hundreds of families.

For the community around Pico-Union, Clínica Monseñor Romero is the place to go if you need care to heal a wound, or to tend to aches and pains. But on Saturday, December 21, hundreds of families lined up early in the morning to get the type of help one needs around this time of the year: Christmas cheer.

As it has been doing for over a decade, the Clinic was transformed into a Winter Wonderland where worker elves dressed in their best “ugly sweaters” gave out toys to hundreds of children and adolescents. There were plush toys for the smallest ones, dolls and cars for the little ones, and headphones, speakers, and other electronics for the older ones. No one left empty-handed.

One by one, the families went through a maze of arts and crafts, a petting zoo, and a video game truck before finally arriving at the tent where toys were passed out based on age, before they could take a picture with Santa. There was also a warm plate of food waiting for them just before exiting the packed parking lot.

“We’ve been giving out toys at Christmas to the children in the neighborhood, here in Pico-Union and Boyle Heights,” said Clinica Monseñor Romero CEO Carlos Vaquerano.

He noted that between 400-500 minors from ages 0 to over 15 would be getting presents at all their six clinics throughout Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley.

“It’s about bringing joy to the children,” said Vaquerano as he stood next to Santa Claus greeting parents and the little ones, playing with some children, or getting an occasional hug as well.

“They (the children) deserve it in these times. They’re so innocent and still believe in Santa Claus, so we have to make sure they keep believing,” Vaquerano said.

He added that many of the families are low-income and “a toy at this time helps them.”

“It’s about bringing joy to the children,” said Vaquerano as he stood next to Santa Claus greeting parents and the little ones, playing with some children, or getting an occasional hug as well.

Indeed. Erika Rangel brought her two daughters, Zyra and Keidy Chavez.

“This is very nice and it helps a lot,” said the native of Morelos, Mexico. “We don’t have to buy them toys right now. This makes the children happy.”

Rangel and her family are regular patients at the Clinic, where they have helped her a lot, she said.

“Before I came here I didn’t have Medi-Cal and they helped me get it,” Rangel said. “They always help you with whatever you need.”

Mom Ana Cruz who brought 17-month-old Shai McKnight also gave “thumbs up” to the event.

“It’s beautiful. I’m so humbled,” Cruz said.

And so did Litzy Lopez, who brought her 3-year-old son Liam Ramos.

“I really like it and he likes it too,” she said of her son.

Vaquerano said several organizations supported the event, as well as City Councilman Hugo Soto Martinez (District 13) and California Assemblymember Marc Gonzalez (District 54). Some toys are donated; the Clinic buys others.

“We’re happy because we’re helping the community,” Vaquerano said.

“People leave content, happy,” he added. “We do it every year and we’re going to keep doing it every year because that’s the commitment we’ve made.”

Families Face Economic Hardship This Thanksgiving, and Many Organizations Are Stepping In to Help