By LOREEN BERLIN: The annual Santa's Siren Express visited five areas of Stanton Sunday for the 18th year in a row.
"It’s an all-day event that takes Santa out to the neighborhoods where the kids are," said President Jim Nelson, with the Youth Assistance Foundation. "It’s an outreach event of Santa arriving on the big red OCFA Fire Engine No. 117, accompanied with an Orange County Sheriff’s escort, followed by a truck full of toys. The truck is provided by CR&R, along with a caravan of Santa’s helpers.”
By LOREEN BERLIN: The annual Santa's Siren Express visited five areas of Stanton Sunday for the 18th year in a row.
"It’s an all-day event that takes Santa out to the neighborhoods where the kids are," said President Jim Nelson, with the Youth Assistance Foundation. "It’s an outreach event of Santa arriving on the big red OCFA Fire Engine No. 117, accompanied with an Orange County Sheriff’s escort, followed by a truck full of toys. The truck is provided by CR&R, along with a caravan of Santa’s helpers.”
Nelson said more than 1,000 children from infants to young teenagers get to meet Santa and are given a toy and a candy cane.
Santa’s Siren Express is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Greater Stanton and the Youth Assistance Foundation of Stanton in collaboration with the City of Stanton, Orange County Fire Authority, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Lions Club of Stanton, the Boys & Girls Club of Stanton, Stanton Community Foundation and CR&R.
Nelson said the toys for the children are donated to the project by Mattel Toy Company and the Orange County Toy Collaborative, which consists of Toys for Tots, Spark of Love, Operation Santa Claus and St. Vincent de Paul.
Also, there are toy donations from local businesses, organizations and individuals. Monitory donations provide funds to purchase toys in the Los Angeles Toy District and special toy sales in the Stanton area.
"There are a wide array of toys ranging from dolls, books, cars and sports equipment," Nelson said. "Santa’s Siren Express is a real community event going out into the community serving children of less fortunate families."
The event is a great chance for neighbors to meet one another, along with being able to see and visit with Santa and an opportunity for the children to talk with deputies and firefighters and get to see their vehicles.
Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Alan Wilkes, along with Firefighter Explorers Zach Wesson, 17, and James Davis, 21, from Post No. 9608 that covers the cities of Stanton, La Palma, Cypress and Buena Park were on hand to serve as well as Orange County Sheriff's deputies Jorge Galindo and Mike Skelly.
"It brings people in the neighborhoods together and it’s wonderful to see the smiles on the kids’ faces," said Nelson, "Many children look forward to the event each year, to see Santa arrive in their neighborhood."
Nelson, along with Ann Nguyen, both have served for the full 18 years the project has been in place and were honored at a luncheon at City Hall following the gift deliveries. "Santa" said he has also helped for those 18 years; for two years, he drove the toy truck and now rides in the fire engine.
Many volunteers of all ages showed up to help. Jessica Cedillo, 16, of Stanton said, "I grew up in Stanton and have volunteered for five years for Santa's Siren and it means a lot to see the kid's smile and hear them say, ‘Thank you,’ for the gifts."
Cedillo was instrumental in getting friend Karla Montiel, 15, to volunteer this year for the first time.
"I love working with kids," said Montiel.
Since the lines are long, to visit Santa in the neighborhoods, volunteers are needed to help hand out stickers while children wait patiently for their turn to talk to Santa, and volunteers also provide face painting for the children.
Vivian Nguyen, 18, was one of those handing out stickers and being a line-monitor so the children didn’t get bored waiting.
"Be imaginative in keeping the children entertained and make people feel welcome," said Ann Nguyen. "Smile and enjoy the job you're doing. All jobs are important, from the people who stand behind Santa to hand him gifts to people on the truck and runners carrying toys from the truck.”
Immediate past mayor and current Councilman Al Ethans was on hand to show support.
"I am really blessed to serve the city and the city provides so much support for Santa's Siren," he said. "This is my eighth year running with the team and I enjoy it. It's really nice to see the smiles on the kids’ faces and see them receiving the gifts, which may be the only gift they get for Christmas."
