Dear Editor:

The City of Douglas Fire Department and Parks and Recreation Department wish to take this opportunity and express our thanks and gratitude to all our citizens, business owners and organizations that assisted us in helping those less fortunate during the 2012 Holiday season.

We were fortunate this past year to receive toys from the “Toys for Tots” Thunder Mountain Detachment Marine Corps league in Sierra Vista AZ. This dedicated crew of retired Marines made gifts possible for many City of Douglas and surrounding area children.

We were successful in planning and executing many activities for our community. To include “Douglas on Ice”, “Christmas at the Park” our Annual Food Drive and Jacket Drive. We were able to provide holiday food baskets and or Toys for over 30 families; we were also able to provide toys for each child who came to visit Santa at the Christmas and Skating event and warm jackets for elementary school children and gifts for La Solana and Cyprus Inn Nursing home residents.

We received monetary, gifts, food donations, and personal help from the following individuals and organizations: Food City, Wal-Mart, Bicipartes, Douglas Meat Market, Ortiz Double H, Dr. Gloria Garcia Mariscal, Douglas Street Rods, Customs Border Protection Douglas Port of Entry, Department of Economic Security , La Familia, Ortegas Stores Inc. , Border Mart, Fallas, Byrds Sheet Metal and Construction, Copper Queen Associates Douglas, Maddux and Son Inc., Arizona Rangers, Med-Trans Corp. (Life Line 2 Douglas), City of Douglas, Interim Police Chief Kraig Fullen and The Douglas Police Department staff, Arizona DOC Warden Baca and the Dept. of Corrections Papago unit. Life Net, Velcro USA, City of Douglas Parks and Johnny Chavez and The Cemetery Crew, Douglas Golf Course and Aquatic Center, Douglas Public Works Division, Mrs. Miriam Herrera, and Mrs. Josefina Elliot, Mrs. Judith Novoa, Dollar General, Southeast AZ. Credit Union, Douglas Cochise County Gov. Center, Ms. Maggie Elliot, Lorraine Novoa, Alina Forrest, Haylee Novoa, Sophia Hernandez, Cochise County CCSO, Douglas Unified Schools # 27, Jenny Molina American Legion Auxiliary Union 11 President and auxiliary junior staff, Douglas for Stronger families Council, Douglas Fire Department Staff, Douglas Fire Department Staff families, Honorable Judge Alma Vildolsola Nathan Novoa, Barbara Jordan, Gavino Meza , Judith Valenzuela, Jackie Valenzuela, Nayaliz Valenzuela, Chanell Valenzuela, Ashley Pearce, Ray Borane middle School Junior National Honor Society, Coqui’s child care center, KDAP Radio Howard Henderson, Douglas Dispatch, Voice of Douglas, Alex Boneo, CBP -U.S. Border Patrol , George Lopez, Jennifer Smith, Ana Urquijo, Luis Pedroza, Elizabeth Daniel, Mayor Danny Ortega, City Manager Carlos De La Torre, Norma Galindo and last but not least SANTA CLAUS .

We also want to thank all of those individuals you came in anonymously and donated food, jackets and toys and those who donated their time that we did not mention.

We had many challenges during the start of this event; however as every year the good citizens and organizations of our community came through one more time! Thank you again for caring so much for our community.

Sincerely:

Mario Novoa

City of Douglas Fire Chief / Local Toys for Tots Coordinator 2012