Warm feelings were in the air Saturday as Christmas came early for a group of Peninsula families.
The First Presbyterian Church of Burlingame continued its decade-and-a-half long tradition of "adopting" needy families and presenting them with gifts of food, clothes, and wrapped presents around a decorated Christmas tree.
The 70 recipient families were chosen from members of the Mid-Peninsula Hispanic Outreach Ministries' congregation, which is almost like a "sister" congregation, said associate pastor Brian Marsh. Donor families from the Burlingame congregation chose families from a list and went shopping to give them an early holiday in a gift-giving ceremony that followed a bilingual Spanish and English Saturday service.
"For a day, people from different neighborhoods and different cultures who speak different languages can be unified, especially at time of year when all world should be unified," said Marsh.
Many recipient families, who waited in a line to receive their gifts following the service, had young children who played on the stairs and in the lobby while their parents talked. Exchanges took place in Spanish and English, and what people couldn't say, they filled in with smiles and eager gestures.
Organizer Katie McCormack had help from her mother Lila, and sister who preferred not to be named. The family had been involved in the charity event for several years, said Lila.
"One Christmas we were sitting around with wrapping paper everywhere and all our gifts, and we started thinking, 'none of us needs all this,'" said Lila.
"So we gave up giving to each other and now we 'adopt' two families at the church to give gifts to. I love Christmas so much more now," she said.
"It's a much more meaningful holiday," she said.
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