The Sunnyvale Sun

Community

Making the holidays brighter for families that are in need

By Erin Hussey

With its bright decorations, scurrying volunteers and mountains o f toys and food, the Sunnyvale Community Services Christmas Center looks a little like Santa's workshop.

From a building on Kifer Road, the center has been providing low-income families the opportunity to select a two-week supply of food and gifts during the holiday season--free--for more than 15 years. This year's shopping runs through Dec. 22.

"The purpose of this is not just making kids happy at Christmas. What we really are trying to do is make sure there is enough food," said Nancy Tivol, executive director. "It's very important food at this point because school is closed, which means there are no breakfast or lunches for 40 percent of the Sunnyvale school district children."

The rainy season and companies closing for the holidays put an additional financial strain on individuals, Tivol said. She estimates the Christmas Center will host more than 1,200 families this year, approximately 3,600 to 4,000 people.

"Try and image what a two -week supply of food looks like for 1,200 families," said Tivol, as she walked through the rows and assorted stacks of peanut butter, canned fruits and bags of rice.

But, with the help of large donations from groups such as Homestead High School, Network Appliance, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter ­day Saints, Advanced Micro Devices and several individuals, each family that "shops" will receive the same amount of food and toys.

"Our guarantee is that people who come in the first day and the last day are going to get the same amount and the same choice," Tivol said.

With four families going through the center every 15 minutes, volunteers must restock the shelves every two hours.

Chuck Quanz, who has been a head food crew volunteer for eight years, said stocking and sorting through the food is hard work, but satisfying.

"Just to see the smiles on the people's faces after they come through here--all you need is one of those," he said.

Quanz and co-leaders Les Brubaker and Tony Thiebaund usually come in four or five times a month to unload and sort. But, during the holiday season, it becomes a full-time job.

"They go into overdrive during this time of year," Tivol said. "We write notes to their wives saying, 'Yes, they are really here.' "

In addition to the food crew, Marie Barlahan, director of operations and volunteers, manages more than 600 Christmas Center volunteers. The volunteers are in charge of decorating, picking up and unloading the donations, sorting through the toys, taking shopping appointments, escorting the families through the center, and much more.

Kathy Moore, who has been volunteering at the center for three years, said she sometimes feels like a Christmas elf.

"I mentioned one time that I feel like I should be dressed like an elf and someone said, 'be careful, they have a costume,' " she joked. This year Moore, along Bunny Sprunger, is in charge of the toy department. While going through the boxes and boxes of toys, they noticed few things for middle school-aged students.

"The middle school age is the hardest," Moore said. "We need things like computer-type games, radios or electronic items."

In addition, the Christmas Center also needs cereal, canned soups, chilies, tomato products and single-serving packets of dry milk.

For more information about the Christmas Center, or to see if you qualify to shop as a family or individual, call 408.746.9627 or visit www.svcommunityservices.org.