By Dianne Anderson Santa’s sled is not pushing capacity this year with wish lists and community events filling up as fast as it posts to social media. Many giveaways are already sold out, and lots of nonprofits are calling for more last-minute toys. Dr. Gwen Dowdy-Rodgers is busy getting the Arrowhead United Way boxes out ...

By Dianne Anderson Isolated solo seniors will have a little something to smile about this Christmas, thanks to the cheerful givers of the Orange County chapters of the National Action Network, the Delta Sigma Theta, and NCNW. Darlene Futrel, the president of the local NAN, said she started the event three years ago to help ...

By Dianne Anderson Getting the kids ready to receive their Christmas gifts is a delicate procedure for Alisha Wade and volunteers as they make their list of children and check it twice, but without any names to go with the cherubim faces. Through her sorority, Beta Pi Sigma, she heads up the Angel Tree Prison ...

By Dianne Anderson Ida Marie Briggs is pushing her old Boss sewing machine – a straight stitch and overlap from another era – to the max, creating dozens of personalized comforters for local kids just in time for Christmas. It is a labor of love that she knows will be nonstop in the days ahead. ...

By Dianne Anderson Canceling Christmas is not an option this year for local nonprofits trying to get food to families, toys to the kids, even as families brace for their unemployment benefits to run dry the day after the holiday. Kisha Collier with Community Health Action Network in Victorville, said she has been reaching out ...