By Dianne Anderson

San Bernardino can expect another ten feet of snow this year, but the teens won’t have to get cold feet, at least on the block where Winter Wonderland gives out hundreds of shoes, and only the good stuff.

What’s becoming a time-honored tradition will make sure that families can get a stress free day of everything they need with food, toys and resources.

This time around, one neighborhood will look a bit different.

Terrance Stone said their pop-up North Pole will vibe little house-fronts on their tents, much like a Santa’s Village. The community can get their gifts, food and fun handed to them through a window, something any elf would appreciate.

Young people will walk through, take pictures with friends, and visit vendors. Live entertainment includes a special surprise celebrity to join in the fun.

“It’s almost a carnival, we’ve got the vendor booths out there. It’s going to be fantastic. It’s built like houses in front of the tents with windows so they can give stuff through the front houses. It will be surrounding snow,” said Dr. Terrance Stone, Founder and CEO, Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy.

On Saturday, December 13, the free Shiekh Winter Wonderland event will give away thousands of toys with plenty of food in partnership with YVYLA, Shiekh Shoes, Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC), among several others. The event runs from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 648 W. 4th Street, San Bernardino.

Youth 13 years and up will get a brand new pair of top of the line shoes, but Stone said get there early.

“They are getting the best of the best,” he said. “The teens will get Adidas, Pumas, Nikes.”

Snow, play, and thousands of toys for kids, extra holiday gifts for the family, and the event offers a Kid’s Zone with interactive activities, holiday crafts, local vendors. Food and refreshments will be available.

In partnership with CAPSBC, families will receive from 400 to 500 hams and all the fixings for Christmas dinner. Children must be present at the event. Food trucks will also be on site.

“They have their resource fair,” he said. “It’s better eye candy and eye catching for the kids when they’re walking through Santa’s Village in the snow.”

It’s a way to lighten the load.

The struggle is hard for local families, but he said the good part is that the kids usually don’t know they have a need, even if their parents are all too aware.

Also coming up, the Can Tree Wonderland event welcomes the IE to bring some canned goods for the good of the community. That event will be held at FARSB Warehouse, 2950-B Jefferson St., in Riverside.

Rachel Bonilla said ever since the government shut down, families have taken a hit.

Federal workers lost a lot while having to work and eat with no money coming in, while SNAP benefits were up and down.

“We are definitely seeing higher numbers, more of an emergency situation,” she said. “A lot of people are in emergency calls saying we’re already out of food, we need something immediately,” said Bonilla, who oversees volunteerism, community outreach and organizes events at the food bank.

On Saturday, December 13, their decorating event is held at the Team Building from noon to 2:00 p.m., featuring free holiday games, photos with Santa, where dozens of decorated canned trees will showcase thousands of canned goods.

It’s vibrant and glittery, but it’s more than stacking up cans for a festive display. That food gets distributed back to the IE as the cost of living soars. It’s not keeping up with how much people are earning.

“The trend we’re seeing right now are people that make a higher amount, you wouldn’t think they’d need to,” she said. “If they make decent money, it doesn’t go far enough to buy their own food. We’re seeing families with two incomes coming in.”

She sees some people driving up in nice cars because it was what they could afford before the job loss, or someone suddenly became disabled. Things can change in a day.

“Nowadays, one small thing can derail your financial situation, and so many people are on the brink of that already with high costs, rent or mortgage being so high, and with food,” she said.

Similar to Thanksgiving, their program will give away food at about two weeks before Christmas, and people should keep an eye on their social media or visit their website www.feedingamericaie.org/Food Pantry to find out how and where to get emergency food now.

Another award-winning DCSS program, hosted by the Fatherhood Committee, also offers numerous services.

On Saturday, Dec. 13, the 2nd Annual Joy of Giving runs from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Department of Child Support Services, located at 10417 Mountain View Ave., Loma Linda. Vendors will have free exams, autism support, food assistance through local food banks, services include Transitional Assistance Department, victim support, among others.

Jason Caldwell, Child Support Operations Manager, said their deeper mission is for fathers to feel valued and supported as dads play a crucial part in their children’s lives.

“Research consistently shows the benefits of having both parents engaged. This event allows us to show fathers they are welcomed, respected, and essential,” he said in an email. “When they see us partnering with community organizations and investing in family-centered activities, it reinforces that we are here to help, not hinder, their involvement.”

It also opens the door to build trust, promote dialogue and work alongside parents, who can receive case guidance, help navigating child support orders, employment services, or referrals to other resources.

Combining their toy giveaway with a full resource fair, he said that health services and parent education helps families for future follow up to help meet their children’s financial, medical and overall well-being needs.

“This approach reflects our commitment to providing timely, effective, and professional service,” he said. “A positive, welcoming experience during the holidays also opens the door for future engagement.”

For more information, see

Can Tree Wonderland https://www.feedingamericaie.org/cantree

For Shiekh Winter Wonderland, https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-winter-wonderland-tickets-1974523597232

For DCSS, see https://childsupport.sbcounty.gov/event/2nd-annual-joy-of-giving-event/