Two Santas with Salinas Fire visits SHARE Homeless Navigation Center with gifts

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) 'Tis the season of giving, and not one but two Santas, along with the Salinas Fire Department made a special stop Wednesday evening to give gifts to kids at the SHARE Homeless Navigation Center. 

Kids were seeing double, two Santas ditched the sleigh and showed up in a fire truck to greet kids just in time for Christmas.

“One of us is from the North Pole the other one is from the South Pole. So, my brother and I thought it would be good to come and visit the children here and have two for the price of one," laughed Erensto Gonzalez, one of the two Santas.

Together these Santas together with Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo, Salinas Mayor Kimbley Craig, and members with the Bay Area Community Services and the SHARE Center handed out gifts from under the tree.  

"Two nerf guns and a zombie figure," said 11 year old, Julian Aguirre. When asked if excited for the holiday, Aguirre replied, “Very it has always been my favorite and spending time with family.” 

The gifts included not just toys, but needed items like backpacks filled with school supplies, clothing, shoes, and gifts were tailored to each child. 

“Tonight is our first Christmas here at the SHARE Center and I have really never seen the community come together in this incredible way. We’ve had thousands of dollars come in,” said Nora Daly, Development Director for Bay Area Community Services.

Adults at the center weren't left out. They also received gifts but there was an even bigger surprise unveiled. A brand new outdoor play set with swings and a slide, for the children to share.

“The playground part we didn’t know at all, so that was as pleasant surprise because I do take them (kids) to the park very often. So this will put a little more ease on us,” mentioned Cecilia Conner, a resident at the SHARE Center.

The SHARE Center opened this past summer. Currently 98 people call the SHARE Center home, some include parents with children. 

“Family homelessness can be so invisible,” continued Daly.  

Wednesday evening families and individuals were able to came together to celebrate the holidays after a collection was gathered from drop off locations. 

“It’s great to have somewhere to be for the holidays and not in the streets or in our car,” added Conner.

There was also a pizza party included in the holiday festivities.