Under the program, individuals and groups from churches, businesses, UCD departments, schools,

service clubs and other groups adopted families under the program. These adopters were matched

with a needy family or individual, who provided them with a list of their needs.

The adopters dropped off their gifts and food at the Holiday Program headquarters

at the First Baptist Church on Russell Boulevard.

In one in the month-long program, the number of those asking for food and gifts outpaced

those who were willing to serve as adopters.

Thanks to an outpouring of support following an article and editorial in the

Davis Enterprise newspaper, all the families and individuals who wanted gifts were

adopted as part of the program.

The program ends with a big celebration day when recipients picked up their gifts. The event included

food and treats. Children were given additional gifts that were collected from donation drives and

gift barrels at Davis businesses.

Free coats were provided to those who needed them.

Even though the program had ended, food, toys and other gift donations are still arriving at the

STEAC office. These toys are redistributed to area shelters in Davis and are distributed

by the Christmas Basket Project in West Sacramento. Late-arriving food is distributed through the

STEAC food closet.

In addition to the Holiday Program, STEAC distributed over 1,000 toys to Yolo County

shelters as part of a motorcycle toy run.

Here are photos of the annual program:

Before adopters dropped off their gifts, the main meeting room

in the First Baptist Church on Russell Drive was empty.

These are pictures of the same room after all the gifts were dropped

off by those who adopted families.

Volunteers collected boxes of food and gifts from those who

adopted families.

Thousands of gifts were collected, wrapped and sorted for distribution

to the children.

Some volunteers braved the cold to help check in those who arrived

to pick up their gifts, while others help cart the boxes to waiting cars.