On Saturday, December 16, 2023, the Fontana School Police Department hosted the annual Fontana’s Santas, and members of the Inland Woodworkers were there to help. Club President Mike Trejo was joined by Ernie Gonzalez, Rick Reimer, and club Secretary Michael Miller. Fontana Santas was started in 1997 when Cindy Evaro, a Fontana School Police Officer, and Lydia Wibert, a school district employee, heard that a young Fontana boy ran away because he did not receive any presents for Christmas. In 2014, Cynda passed away, and Fontana USD Safety Officer Beulah Plata stepped in to continue the program. Now, 26 years after the inception, the organization is providing toys, food, and holiday cheer to several local families.
Jacque Long runs the Foundation of Hope organization. She is a supporter of the Fontana Santas and an active participant in the event. Jacque is a sponsor of the Inland Woodworkers; her charity’s generous donations assist the Inland Woodworkers in purchasing components used to build quality toys for the holiday events.
From left to right: Rick Reimer, Ernie Gonzalez, Jacque Long, Lydia Wibert, Mike Trejo, and Michael Miller.
So how does the event work? Each Fontana school site selects 10 families in advance of the event. The Fontana Santas then prepare, bag, and tag a holiday gift bag for each family. As the families drive through the event, the Fontana Police Cadets confirm the family’s identity and provide each with their pre-allocated package. The cadets also assist the IW by selecting and distributing toys based on the number of children in each family.
With everything in place, everyone awaits the first family. And then, the fun begins!
The cadets worked tirelessly to ensure the families were given excellent care. They also demonstrated their positive holiday spirit throughout the day!
And finally, the day would not be complete without a visit to Santa and Mrs. Claus!
