12-year-old spreads Christmas cheer with a lunch bag
After experiencing a traumatic holiday season a few years ago, a young El Centro resident has since been able to discover the true meaning of Christmas.
With the help of his father, 12-year-old Adolfo Hernandez learned that the satisfaction of giving to others brings far more joy than anything one could receive.
On Saturday morning, Adolfo and his father, Paul, made their way around El Centro, Heber and Calexico handing out individual homemade lunches to the homeless and underprivileged.
What has turned into an annual holiday tradition for the father and son began as a simple Christmas wish the 12 year old made three years ago.
Kudos to Hernandez for his desire to help others.
That is the true spirit of giving.
Thousands flock to Las Palmas Christmas festival
Santa Claus was able to provide more than 500 children with toys Dec. 20 during the 22nd annual Las Palmas Swap Meet Christmas festival, which attracted an estimated 11,000 people.
The annual event pairs a unique shopping experience with live music, raffles, a chance to meet Santa Claus and personnel from the Calexico Fire Department.
Saikhon signs to continue football career at UC Davis
Since he began watching college football on television at an early age, Southwest High School senior Tyler Saikhon has dreamed of playing the sport at the collegiate level.
After a standout four-year career of playing football at Southwest High, Saikhon, 18, was able to achieve that dream Dec. 20 as he signed his National Letter of Intent to play football at the University of California, Davis, next year.
Congratulations to Saikhon and good luck in his college career.
Federal funds to aid young asthma patients
Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a round of funding allocated for California, including $17,000 for the El Centro Regional Medical Center.
The funding received from the federal government will go toward the hospital’s Imperial Valley Child Asthma Program to enhance the level of services they provide young residents of the Valley who are disproportionately affected by asthma.
Imperial County is one of the worst areas in the state of California when it comes to air quality.
According to data from the California Department of Public Health, the county has the highest rate of asthma-related emergency services visits in the state for children aged 5-17. While the state has an average of 72.4 emergency visits per 10,000, the rate in the Valley is more than twice that with 163 per 10,000 per year.
IID, Calipatria Prison staff aid children with clothing drives
Employees of the Imperial Irrigation District collected and provided numerous articles of winter clothing for abused or neglected children in foster care throughout Imperial County who are represented by the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Imperial County last week.