The Manna House volunteers take time out for a Christmas Photo

Bucking the trend that is taking place in the Central Valley and around the United States, the community residents of Mariposa County turned out and donated more money to Manna House and the Sheriff Departments Kops For Kids Program in 2009 than in 2008.

On Tuesday December 22, 2009 the Fairgrounds in Mariposa was all abuzz with volunteers from Manna House as they set up an assembly line for about 350 complete Christmas Dinners. The dinners had everything from a turkey to a choice of Pumpkin or Apple Pie.

The Kops for Kids Programs had many aisles set up with new Christmas Toys that came from Wal Mart in Merced. Wal Mart has the program with very good pricing and provides employees to help with the shopping. The toys made their way back up to Mariposa in a very big horse trailer that was full to the brim with the toys.

The earliest arrival was in line this year at 5:00 A.M.  for the Kops for Kids Program. When the doors opened each person is assigned a personal shopper and two toys can be picked out.

Also Mercy Ambulance had about 175 coats that were professionally dry cleaned by Oakhurst Cleaners. They were all arranged on coat hangers for the community to choose from as there was a vast assortment of styles.