Local advocacy group distributes toys
for veterans’ families
Afew of veterans’ families got a little post-Christmas joy on Thursday during the ninth annual Toy Drive for US Veterans Kids & Families conducted by the Daniel Ochoa Sr. Foundation.
The toy drive was coordinated by Daniel Ochoa Jr., who began the foundation after his father a veteran himself passed away in 2007.
Ochoa invited more than 100 veteran families from the Valley to come in to the First United Methodist Church in El Centro to receive toys for their children.
“I do this every year as a thank you for our vets and their families for their service,” Ochoa said. “At the end of the day I get calls from some of the families thanking me and it makes me very emotional. I’m just doing my part as an advocate to make sure that they get the proper help.”
On Thursday about a dozen families stepped by in the early hours of the afternoon.
The families that were aided said they really appreciate the support they have received every year by Ochoa’s organization.
Carla Gonzalez a single mother of six children came by with two of her children to pick up toys for all of her children.
“I think this is wonderful, because of people like me who is a single mom with six kids it’s really hard on us around Christmas time to provide for all of my kids and myself,” she said.
After signing in, the children had the opportunity to choose a toy of their preference and take photos with Santa Claus.
Booths were set up in place to give parents information on free cell phone plans, while the Pioneers Memorial HealthCare District and Imperial County Behavioral Health Services were present to provide information on the care programs they offer to veterans and their families.
“I’ve been coming for the last three or four years, it has been an ongoing thing for me it really helps to have this support from Daniel (Ochoa) and his organization,” Gonzalez said. “I think it’s really good that they are helping everyone.”
When he first began his efforts about 10 families showed up and with time that number rose to more than 50 families, however according to Ochoa that number has dwindled down in the last couple of years. Although he’s not sure why that is, one of the possibilities is that now veterans and their families have more local resources to tap into.
Despite the decrease in turnout, Ochoa has big plans to make the 10th annual event much bigger. He said he will have a local business that sells fish tacos to serve food, he’s in talks to bring a jazz band to play Christmas-themed music. He has also asked the Imperial County Board of Supervisors to pass a proclamation which is still in the works.
“I’m excited that it seems as its going to get bigger and better I’m really looking forward for 2017,” Ochoa said. Staff Writer Edwin Delgado can be reached at edelgado@ivpressonline.com