The third candle of the Hanukkah menorah will be lit tonight and Christmas is less than three weeks away, but there is still time to gift the glow of the holidays to a child in need.
A time-honored tradition in South Tucson, Ramon Gonzales’ Miracle on 31st Street Christmas Party will bring toys, food and fun to children from low-income families in South Tucson for the 45th year at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 20 at the Casino Del Sol AVA Amphitheater.
“The very first time I did this, I thought it was a one-shot deal. It was a party for my nieces and nephews and I never thought I would be doing it 45 years later,” said Ramon Gonzales, who has overseen the evolution of the backyard barbecue for a handful of children into a party for more than 10,000 children and their families.
Gonzales credits the festivities to a collaborative endeavor on the part of businesses—longtime supporters such as Silver Saddle Steakhouse and more recent sponsors such as Casino Del Sol — as well as generations of party attendees and volunteers citywide.
The effort includes toy drives and various events that will attempt to collect 15,000 new, unwrapped toys and bikes.
“One of the things I want to do is to thank the community for coming through with the toys for the kids every year so we can do the party. It is not me that is doing the party; it is the community,” Gonzales said.
Among the supporters is Larry Gonzales (no relation to Ramon), who attended the party as a child and now rallies friends to collect toys and cash contributions for toys through the Die Hard Raiders Booster Club.
“I grew up not receiving presents at all. I was the firstborn of eight kids with just my mom taking care of us, so it was really hard on her. We depended every year on Ramon for giving away gifts. Everyone looked forward to it,” he said.
Larry Gonzales said that one of the best parts of the event is watching children when Santa arrives in a parade of classic cars and low riders filled with presents.
“All the kids’ eyes light up when they see Santa Claus come in the beautiful cars. You should see the smiles on their faces; they just can’t wait. It is a wonderful feeling. I tell everyone I know about this. It has been going on for 45 years in your backyard and you should know about it,” Larry Gonzales said.
The message has resonated with neighbors to the east; golfers began offering the Miracle a boost three years ago through the Annual Miracle on 31st Street/Toys for Tots Golf Tournament hosted by the Forty Niner Country Club.
Casey Polivchak, director of golf and sales at the country club, said that the tournament has supported Toys for Tots for 15 years and is gratified to extend assistance to the event in South Tucson.
“We want to help because these are local kids and families in need. We really feel that people who play golf are blessed and we want to be able to share the joy of Christmas. This is a good way to give back to the community,” said Polivchak.
Tucsonans can also give back while supporting another local tradition: The Lexus Toy Battle & Bike Build to benefit Team Up For Tucson (TUFT) from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday at Lexus of Tucson at the Auto Mall, 4670 N. Circuit Road.
The annual event features teams from the Air Force, Air National Guard, Air Force ROTC and Army National Guard in a two-hour bike-building contest. TUFT also sponsors a toy donation drive; all toys and bikes are holiday gifts for local children in need.
“Every year, all the toys are donated to the Salvation Army in memory of Christina-Taylor Green and it really helps carry on her legacy. We have provided more than 30,000 toys and 800 bikes to children since we started five years ago as a grassroots movement,” said Michele Ochoa, founder of TUFT, which became a nonprofit in 2012.
Ochoa said that the event has evolved into a high-spirited, feel-good competition that is enjoyable for participants and the public alike.
“The Air Force has won every year. They have a drill sergeant that really cracks the whip and it is really fun to come out and cheer on your favorite branch of the military while making a little holiday magic for the kids,” she said.
Levi Magda, Airman First Class and the new leader of the Air National Guard team, said he hopes to give the Air Force a run for their money.
A Tucson native, Magda said that though he has never built a bike, he enjoys restoring motorcycles and hopes that experience will work to his advantage.
“I wish I could tell you that I want to build 1,000 bikes, but I am in the dark here. I am going in with a positive attitude, though, and it is exciting to be involved. No matter who shows up and how we do, we will be there building bikes for kids,” Magda said.
