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SAVES distributes holiday gift baskets

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SAVES Coordinator Patricia Morales (right) and SAVES employee Katherine Stocking pose for a picture with two of the nearly 300 holiday family dinner packages that were distributed to local, disadvantaged families on Monday (Dec. 23).
SAVES Coordinator Patricia Morales (right) and SAVES employee Katherine Stocking pose for a picture with two of the 280 holiday dinner packages that were distributed to local, disadvantaged families on Monday (Dec. 23).

PALMDALE – Hundreds of local low income families will have a Merry Christmas this year, thanks to South Antelope Valley Emergency Services (SAVES).

SAVES distributed 280 holiday baskets and gift bags to families in need Monday, beating last year’s record.

“We know a lot of families are struggling right now, and this is something we can do that we know goes a long way,” said SAVES Coordinator Patricia Morales.

Each family received a frozen turkey and all the items needed for a holiday dinner.
Each family received a frozen turkey, all the items needed for a holiday dinner, and toys for children under 18.

The holiday baskets included a frozen turkey and all the ingredients necessary for a complete holiday dinner with all the trimmings, Morales said.

Families also received a toy for each person under 18 and a family gift, Morales added.

“A game that the family can play together and some goodies like hot chocolate and things for the family to do on Christmas day,” Morales said.

The massive giveaway was made possible through generous donations by Northrop Grumman, Four Points Swap Meet and other local business, Morales said.

Families needed to meet income eligibility requirements to qualify for the donation.
Families needed to meet income eligibility requirements to qualify for the donation.

Several community organizations also came out Monday to help distribute the holiday gift baskets. Among the volunteers were the Rancho Vista Community Queens, the Palmdale Learning Academy’s Robotics Team and several Palmdale city employees.

“We have families who are trying but they just can’t seem to make ends meet,” Morales said. “For those families, this is their whole Christmas, and we’re happy to do it.”

To qualify for the donation, families had to meet income eligibility requirements, reside in the south Antelope Valley area and register by November, Morales said.

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Filed Under: Palmdale

3 comments for "SAVES distributes holiday gift baskets"

  2. There is one more “requirement” you failed to mention – you must have children to qualify for these gift baskets. I go to Saves every 2 weeks and I appreciate their help- I live in an apartment in a very bad palmdale neighborhood – I wish me and my GF could afford to move.. to get away from the crime and violence that plagues this street.. I wish we were eligible for the gift basket too – our Christmas tree this year is a string of lights from 99 cent store wrapped around a floor lamp.. and our Christmas dinner will be the ground beef Saves gave us – I think we can do a meatloaf with it. But I guess families with kids SHOULD come first.. Kids are truly innocent and deserve a good Christmas Dinner.