Book of Dreams readers show their generosity to community organizations for 34th year

It was 2 a.m. on a recent Saturday morning before Christmas when cars, trucks and vans could be seen lined up along Anna Street in West Sacramento. With temperatures dipping into the mid-30s, vehicle windows fogged up. Drivers cut their engines on and off. Many cranked up their car heaters. Drivers and passengers settled in for the long wait.

The goal? To be among the first vehicles getting into the ever popular West Sacramento toy distribution drive-thru event which opened at 10 a.m. that day at the Yolo County Children’s Alliance Family Resource Center.

Jordan Villajuerte, 31, a mother of two who lost her warehouse job four and a half months ago, rolled down her window around 10:10 a.m., and said she was pleased her eight-hour wait was finally over. With finances so tight this year, she was determined that with help from donors, her children would be provided for this Christmas. She didn’t mind the long wait.

“I will do anything for them to have a good Christmas. I don’t care how long or how far I have to go,” she said.

And with that, she started the ignition of her Dodge Caravan and began a slow roll into the parking lot where volunteer greeters asked her what she would like – stuffed animals, balls, princess dolls, games, gift cards, holiday desserts and some diapers and household items.

Grateful for the community’s generosity, she said her two children Kamella, 11, and Lavaeah, 3, wouldn’t have to go without presents this year.

Thanks to the giving spirit from many public and private organizations, as well as individual donors, the event was able to provide an estimated 3,000 toys for 965 children.

As the families made their way through the parking lot, they were greeted by West Sacramento Vice Mayor Quirina Orozco. She was dressed up as a beardless, portly Santa, dancing and singing to holiday tunes blaring from a loud speaker. It was her second year as the toy distribution mascot. She said she works for the smiles.

“The kids who come through are beside themselves with joy,” she said, “I would dress up like this every single day to get this kind of response,” she said as she prepped for the event.

Yolo County Children’s Alliance Executive Director Jeneba Lahai greeted volunteers who came to work, and noted the event is a prime example of what happens when members of the community come together to help those in need. She understands at a personal level what it means to be supported by a community when you are down.

Lahai said she was six or seven years old when civil war broke out in her home country of Liberia. She and her mother were forced out of their home, and had to rely on the generosity of others for years until she was finally able to come to the U.S. The spirit of giving is something that led her to her vocation as a humanitarian worker, helping those in need in Yolo County.

“Everything we do here is supported by community,” she said.

The Yolo County Children’s Alliance is one of 10 community organizations featured in this year’s Sacramento Bee Book of Dreams, its 34th year highlighting individual and organizational needs.

Each year, residents throughout the region step up to help people fulfill a holiday dream, or lighten a financial burden when they need it the most.

There have been plenty of calls over the years for such things as toys, shoes, blankets, backpacks, equipment, and to pay for expenses that are simply too much for people hurt, harmed, and helpless.

Lahai said the need to help those suffering has never been greater.

“Most of the unemployment protections have gone away. Housing protections have gone away, however the pandemic still persists,” she said. “I have heard people say a lot of jobs exist, but for many they don’t have child care. And then there are others who have had COVID and are dealing with the long term illnesses that can follow.”

There is still plenty of time to donate to the 10 Book of Dreams featured in stories this year as well as to numerous other community organizations that are also seeking Book of Dreams readers’ help. Donations are tax deductible; none of the money received is used for administrative costs.

While the Book of Dreams issues the call for donations, the Book of Dreams fund is administered by the Sacramento Region Community Foundation. (The foundation name will appear on your statement.)

If you have questions, please feel free to call the Book of Dreams line at 916-556-5667.

The 2021 Book of Dreams’ featured wishes include:

Volunteers of America. Seeks $3,900 to purchase a commercial refrigerator for its X Street Homelessness Navigation Shelter, which provides beds, meals and case management for 100 individuals facing homelessness.

Society for the Blind. Seeks $5,800 to provide 50 blind seniors with a Senior Safety Kit that includes various blindness assistive devices for home use.

Studio T Arts & Entertainment. Seeks $7,500 for MacBooks, podcast camera equipment and other technology to help teens produce content that motivates and inspires other young people to be all they can be.

North State Building Industry Foundation. Seeks $3,300 to pay for new beds for children in need. They are built and delivered by young adults participating in the North State Building Industry Foundation’s youth workforce training program.

Alchemist CDC. Seeks $7,000 to buy a commercial freezer and industrial food processor for its nonprofit kitchen operation, set up to bring in low income entrepreneurs to launch early stage business ventures in the food and food preparation business without incurring the high costs of renting a commercial kitchen.

Runnin’for Rhett. Seeks $17,500 to buy athletic shoes for children whose parents can’t afford to pay for shoes so they can participate in youth fitness programs operated in local elementary and middle schools.

IuMien Community Services. Seeks $5,000 to put on a once a month grocery distribution event for their clients, all impoverished seniors unable to shop for goods at grocery stores due to COVID.

Yolo County Children’s Alliance. Seeks $15,000 to meet the growing demand for childrens’ coats, gloves, hats, toys, diapers and other essential goods.

Aspiranet. Seeks $4,800 to provide 80 young adults, all former foster youth, with carts to transport groceries from stores to their apartments.

Red Cross. Seeks $7,700 to fund in-depth testing, typing and matching of blood to identify strong matches for donor blood that will serve sickle cell disease patients in need of transfusions.

How you can help

For more than three decades, The Bee has asked readers to provide a gentle lift to Sacramento organizations helping the needy during the holiday season. Last year, more than $200,000 was raised to help 32 community organizations. To help in this year’s Book of Dreams campaign, you can make a donation at: sacbee.com/bookofdreams

This story was originally published December 25, 2021 at 5:00 AM.