Photo taken by: Tracey Petersen
Sonora, CA — While shopping for those last minute Christmas gifts, a local retailer through the “Stuff the Bus” event today is making it easy to give to those less fortunate.
A school bus is parked in front of the Sonora Wal-Mart at the Crossroads Shopping Center on Sanguinetti Road and will remain there until 4 p.m. Volunteers will handout a list of needed items to anyone interested in participating. After shopping, people can drop off their contributions for storage in the bus. Organizer Mark Dyken details the items most needed by the homeless, “In the past we’ve gotten tents, sleeping bags and tarps. Those are probably the most important things because people who have been living outdoors for a little while, those tents are great for when you go camping for a weekend, but for an extended stay they wear out. Also, things like boots, warm socks, gloves, sweaters, batteries and lanterns; all are things that you would use if you were camping, some people use that as their way of life.”
As an incentive to donate, Dyken adds that his year the store has provided a special fast checkout line for shoppers buying gifts. Distribution of donated items with happen with the assistance of the Jamestown Family Resource Center at local parks and other identified locations.
For additional holiday events this weekend, click here, or go to the mymotherlode.com homepage an type “event” in the keyword box.
Written by Tracey Petersen.
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