by 
San Manuel Miner
The Patio Café was crowded Saturday afternoon as around 40 Oracle residents showed up to wrap gifts and sign Christmas cards for the migrant children refugees being sheltered at the Sycamore Canyon Academy. David and Stacy Raneri graciously donated use of the café and provided some great finger food and drinks for those in attendance.
The unaccompanied migrant children will be receiving numerous gifts not only from the Oracle Have a Heart group but from people in SaddleBrooke and from the Santa Catalina Church. Catholic Community Services donated backpacks and shoes. Other gifts included underwear, socks, wallets, jackets, yo-yos, Spanish-English dictionaries, books and candy. Mary Ellen (Kaz) Kazda thanked all those who showed up and donated. She commented that it is “hearts over hate every single time”. The crowd applauded and cheered.
The gifts will be delivered this week to the Casa de Corazon at Sycamore Canyon Academy where the children are residing until they can be reunited with family. The unaccompanied minors will have a Christmas to remember thanks to those in the community willing to open their hearts to those in need.
John Hernandez lives in Oracle. He is retired and enjoys writing and traveling. He is active in the Oracle Historical Society. He covers numerous public events, researches historical features and writes business/artist profiles.
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