Hayward Rotary and Target Team up at Christmas for our Holiday Child Shopping Spree

Can you believe we held a Rotary event that has everyone showing up at 5:30 a.m. on a Saturday??  Well, when the event was to take 40 deserving kids shopping, we actually showed up early and sent a First Class Tour bus to pick some of the kids up!

Thanks to a matching grant from Target, the Hayward Rotary Club, our friends, families and even Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus showed up on a rainy Saturday morning to take 40 area kids of all ages shopping for clothes and a toy or two.  Congressman-Elect Eric Swalwell even joined us to see what all the excitement was and took an 8 year old shopping. He even had a chance to sit on Santa's lap and tell Santa what he wanted for Christmas.  Of course, since Santa is not a lobbyist, all gifts are not reportable and no strings are attached!

Thanks go out to so many people, especially Target Team Members Robert Osario (Store manager) and Melissa Jecman as well as to the folks of Rosie's Tours in Newark who donated a First Class Tour bus - and bus driver (thanks Tony!) to pick up some of the kids who did not have transportation to the store.

Past Hayward Rotary Presidents George Pacheco and Pam Russo co-chaired this project with co-chair Katie Kirkbride, one of Hayward Rotary's newest members.  Over 50 volunteers showed up, including several from Life Chiropractic College West.  A great way to keep the Holiday Spirit alive in Hayward!