Tribe gives $100,000 for annual Christmas Cheer All Year shopping spree to benefit hundreds of disadvantaged children from across Inland Southern California.

Laughter and excitement filled the air as more than 3,000 disadvantaged children from across Inland Southern California took part in the annual Christmas Cheer All YearShopping Spree sponsored by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians on Monday, Dec. 17.

Throughout the morning, smiling children emerged from the Target Store in Rancho Cucamonga, CA happily clutching superhero action figures, dolls, stuffed animals, Lego sets, soccer balls, books, board games and other toys that they picked themselves during the three-hour shopping spree.

“The Morongo Band of Mission Indians is excited to be partnering once again with Christmas Cheer All Year to brighten the holidays for thousands of childrenin need,” said Morongo Tribal Chairman Robert Martin. “For some of these children, this will be the only present they receive this holiday. We really enjoy helping put smiles on all these happy young faces.”

Morongo served as title sponsor for the annual shopping spree for a ninth year, donating $100,000 to the nonprofit Christmas Cheer All Year organization. Children from across the Inland Empire, including more than 600 youth from Banning, Beaumont and Cabazon benefited from the program.

“It means a lot,” Joshua Dominguez, 9, of Beaumont said of being able to take part in the shopping spree. “I am really happy that they do this for us.”

Nearby, a beaming 7-year-old Savannah Buzoff of Cabazon sat cross-legged in a shopping cart as she eyed the brightly packaged L.O.L. Surprise dolls she was buying. “I Just love LOL dolls,” she proclaimed, her arms stretched skyward. “You can dress them up different ways and play with them.”

Her mother, Shannon Linton, said the shopping spree would help her daughter enjoy the holidays. “It’s amazing. She has really been looking forward to getting this toy for Christmas, and now she can.” 

Since 2010, Morongo has donated $850,000 to the annual shopping sprees organized by Rick Lozano, founder of Christmas Cheer All Year and a longtime Fox 11 News journalist.

“Every year, we can count on the generosity of the Morongo tribe to help bring joy to children and families in need during the holidays,” said Lozano, who credits Morongo with raising over $1 million for the non-profit group through direct donations and support of an annual golf tournament fundraiser.  

As in past years, dozens of children in protective care with the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services were involved in the shopping spree.

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians contributes more than $1 million annually to support communities and nonprofits across Southern California.
CaptionsPhoto 3: Children present a $100,000 check from Morongo to support the Christmas Cheer All Year Shopping Spree.Photo 2: 5-year-old Daniel Del Rio of Banning displays a book he purchased at the Morongo-sponsored Christmas Cheer All Year Shopping Spree.Photo 4: Yetta Riddle, 9, of Banning hunts for a toy at the Morongo-sponsored Christmas Cheer All Year Shopping Spree.Photo 5:  13-year-old Emiley Walker (left) and Rheanna Lara, 10, both of Banning,  take part in the annual Christmas Cheer All Year Shopping Spree sponsored by Morongo.

The tribe gave out 10,000 turkeys this week to help feed those in need as part of 33^rd Annual Morongo Thanksgiving Outreach Program.

MORONGO INDIAN RESERVATION — The Morongo Band of Mission Indians in Cabazon, CA. distributed 10,000 free turkeys this week that will provide an estimated 150,000 Thanksgiving meals to families, seniors and veterans in need across Southern California.

With this year’s donation, Morongo’s annual Thanksgiving Outreach program has provided more than 2.5 million holiday meals to the less fortunate since the program was formally launched by the tribe 33 years ago.

“At Morongo, giving is a part of who we are, and that will never change,” said Morongo Tribal Chairman Robert Martin. “We feel fortunate to be able to help provide holiday meals and comfort to those in need across Southern California.”

On Nov. 13 and Nov. 14, dozens of tribal members and volunteers gathered at the Morongo Community Center to distribute the Thanksgiving turkeys to 99 nonprofit organizations such as churches, food pantries, schools, veteran groups and homeless shelters from across Southern California. Groups receiving turkeys hailed from Banning, Beaumont, Riverside, San Bernardino, Moreno Valley, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, Indio, Redlands, Los Angeles, and other communities. 

The groups will use the turkeys to provide hot holiday meals to those in need or will distribute the birds in holiday food baskets with all the fixings to help feed thousands of people who would otherwise not be able to afford and enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner.

Non-profit groups receiving turkeys ranged from the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission in Indio to the Los Angeles Rescue Mission, the Armed Services YMCA in Twentynine Palms, Carol’s Kitchen in Calimesa, Martha’s Village in Indio, the Kansas Avenue Resource Center in Riverside, and many others.

“Every year, Morongo steps up to help our organization provide hot meals and hope to thousands of people across the Coachella Valley, and we are deeply grateful for the tribe’s continued generosity,” said Darla Burkett, executive director of the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, which received 400 turkeys from the tribe.

Hundreds of veterans and military families benefitted from the tribe’s Thanksgiving Outreach program, which provided more than 425 turkeys this year to local chapters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and other military support groups.

“Thanks to Morongo, military families who have sacrificed so much in serving our nation will enjoy a holiday meal with their loved ones and friends,” said Todd Sieja, president of the Western Eagle Foundation in Temecula.

The Los Angeles Mission received 200 birds to help feed the homeless this holiday. Herb Smith, president of the Los Angeles Mission, said the Morongo donation will help feed those on Skid Row in Los Angeles.

“The Morongo Band of Mission Indians continues to bless the poor and homeless men, women and children we serve,” Smith said. “We are honored to be partnering with Morongo once again to provide food and care this Thanksgiving.” 

To receive turkeys, participating groups submitted applications to the tribe and were notified over the summer that they had been selected. Applications are typically due in March.