Local Children Get Special Gifts at Santa's Workshop

Hundreds of children got to pick donated gifts during Saturday's Santa's Workshop at Quail Valley Elementary School.

By Peter Thorwarth

More than 900 kids from low-income families went home with a smile on Saturday. The Lake Menifee Women’s Club, in conjunction with the Spark of Love Toy Drive, held its annual "Santa’s Workshop" from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Quail Valley Elementary School in Menifee.

Thousands of gifts, from games and books to backpacks and bikes, were given to families who were qualified and preregistered by the Menifee Valley Community Cupboard.

Participants lined up and then went through a fun sequence: Getting raffle tickets, choosing gifts, taking a photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus, getting posters, coloring, making crafts and playing games, and then finally having snacks and juice. Along the way, the children also had a chance to try on and take home coats and other garments that had been donated.

Most of the thousands of new, unwrapped toys and other gifts were donated in November and December by Menifee residents; they put them in tall Spark of Love boxes located in stores, schools, HOA’s and other public places. Those donations were then sorted and stored in units donated by Statewide Storage on Newport Road.

More than 200 volunteers helped out, some of them starting more than four months prior to the event, sending flyers to schools and notifying families, among other things.

Captain Leonard Grill of the Quail Valley Fire Company and his wife, Linda, coordinate the Spark of Love Toy Drive. Lake Menifee Women’s Club has been presenting Santa’s Workshop since 2007. They appreciate the help of all the volunteers and the many wonderful donations to help the less fortunate in this community.

Incoming Lake Menifee Women's Club President Ally Thorwarth, School Superintendent Steve Kennedy and current LMWC President Debbi Manion.