The event, held over Thursday and Friday, serves about 480 families and more than 1,300 children, according to the center. Parents—rather than children—did the shopping, guided by volunteers through a carefully organized system that allowed each family to choose two toys and two books per child.
“It’s really about the dignity of them being able to select,” said Jhoana Hirasuna of Foothill Unity Center. “We don’t want them to have to decide between paying the bills, putting food on the table, or making the holidays happen for their kids.”
The Candy Land theme added a smile to what remains a sobering reality. The center is serving nearly six times more clients than last year, said Hirasuna, and is still awaiting 25 percent of its awarded government funding, even as families impacted by layoffs, benefit cuts and wildfire displacement seek help—many for the first time.
Thursday morning brought a burst of pageantry as members of the 2026 Rose Court arrived to thank volunteers and lend some sparkle to the proceedings.
Rose Queen Serena Guo, who previously volunteered at the center, reflected on what she called the “magic and teamwork” she witnessed during distribution days. “Everyone there genuinely tries to learn each and every one of our names,” she said. “It really showed me the power of teamwork and the joy people have in giving back.”
Rose Princess Nira Whatley, a senior at John Muir High School, spoke personally about the meaning of the day after being affected by the Eaton Fire. Seeing high-quality toys, she said, reinforced the idea that “everyone gets the same amount and quality,” regardless of circumstance.
For Foothill Unity Center, the holiday spectacle may be the icing on the cake—but, as staff emphasized, the need continues well beyond December.
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