LAKE COUNTY — A Lake County Sheriff”s Office assistant came up with an idea to buy gifts for disadvantaged children on Tuesday. On Friday with the help of department staff she bought $1,157 in jackets, clothes and gifts for 13 Lake County children.
“We were all kinda bah humbug last week when we were having our Christmas lunch,” office assistant Debbie Burnett said.
Burnett then told her coworkers next year the department should forgo the Christmas lunch and buy gifts for children, she said. She then talked to Sgt. Brian Martin, who spoke with his wife at the District Attorney”s Victim/Witness Services Division, who found some children in need.
Martin and Burnett collected all the money from LCSO staff and wrapped it Friday at the Lakeport office with the help of workers from the Lake County Jail.
The Sheriff”s Department and the Victim/Witness Services Division will give most of the children their gifts Monday.
The children range in age from 11 months old to 18 years old, but all needed clothes and jackets more than fun gifts, Martin said.
“It was heartbreaking for me,” Martin said. “There”s a few toys here, but we had kids asking for clothes, for jackets and sweaters. We even had one kid ask for sheets for his bed. These kids are needy of basic living items.”
Along with jackets and clothes, some of the gifts include for Legos, CDs, a skateboard, arts and crafts supplies and stuffed animals.
Shari”s Secret Garden, Renee”s Cafe and Mendo-Lake Office Products also donated to the effort.
Contact Katy Sweeny at ksweeny@record-bee.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
