DOWNEY — The Christmas trees in the Rio Hondo Event Center shone with the joys of the season. Tiny lights gleamed on branches and the green terrace just outside the windows was flanked with red poinsettias.

Carrie Kim, Downey Unified School District’s Coordinator of Teaching English as a Second Language, greeted us at the door. The DUSD co-hosts and coordinates the Rotary Club of Downey’s annual Christmas party and luncheon for children. This year the room held two festive table of gifts hand-wrapped by Rotarians at last week’s meeting, plus glittery red stockings stuffed with puzzles, Kit-Kats and peppermint candies. Thank to Barbara Lamberth and her committee for that.

**Shirley Johnson. Photo by Lorine Parks**

Shirley Johnson came in trailing her suitcase full of sweets to give to the children, wearing her outrageous holiday hat. Shirley has long championed the cause of abused children.

At my table I was lucky enough to sit with second-graders from Rio San Gabriel, the same school my kids went to. Principal David Cid, a 25-year Downey resident, wore a splendid lavender shirt and sugar-plum colored tie to match, and with him was Rose Zeisel, whom I took for a young assistant.

But no, Rose, festive in purple, showed me pictures of herself receiving the Teacher of the Year Award from district Superintendent Dr. John Garcia, and then her 7th grade son Ethan receiving Student of the Year honors.

“I’m 44,” said Rose, and now I saw a few silver hairs in her abundant long black tresses. Principal David announced he is 50. Authority figures sure are looking younger and better than I remember from my elementary school days. I specifically recall Miss Doonan, “the Dragon” as we used to call her, my third grade teacher.

“We keep him busy,” said Rose, referring to Principal David. “He has the kids to look after, plus the teachers and the parents. He has an open door policy and he’s caring.”

“I’ve lived in Downey all my life,” an enthusiastic Rose said, “and I’m excited because we haven’t told the children that Santa is coming. That’s going to be their big surprise.”

Boys and girls at the table included Xien (pronounced Zion). “How are the children chosen to come to this luncheon?” I asked, and Rose said they were usually hand-picked by the teachers, and come from struggling families that wouldn’t be able to have presents this Christmas.

“They are all well behaved, with good academic records, but they need support,” said Rose.

Xien and his tablemate Jerome, both 7, were happily wolfing down the fried chicken and iced tea we had provided for the children, not expecting anything more to come.

We had all stood for the invocation and then recited the Pledge of Allegiance together. The children spoke carefully and enunciated clearly, and their high-pitched voices topped ours.

We all sang “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” led by cheerleaders Dan and Debbie Fox, and then “Jingle Bells.” Grown-ups pulled out car keys to shake, and some, like me, tapped their water glasses. But the kids had all been given gold bead necklaces with bells on them, and they contributed the genuine sound.

One minute we were eating and laughing. The next minute he was upon us, a jolly Santa with his own short white beard for tots to admire.

That was at 12:20 pm. By 1 o’clock all the schools had been called, in reverse alphabetical order (Rio San Gabriel cheered for that), and the children had had their moment with Santa.

Dr. John Garcia heroically called out the name of each child and each adult accompanying them, and a DUSD photographer took a picture of each child as he or she stood beside Santa. Dr. John said the beard would probably be gone after December.

Who could our Santa be?

This Santa wore his own short beard and mustache, and none of the children complained that he wasn’t the poster Santa. Actually, it’s the tiny gold-rimmed granny glasses that alter the faces we’ve known for a long time. Funny how you don’t recognize someone, in a different context.

**Xien checks out his new toy, courtesy of Rotary Club of Downey.**

Xien and Jerome unwrapped their boy toys and instantly knew how to operate the Attack of the Snapping Crocodiles On the Hot Wheels Village Garage. The action scene could even be played in a cramped area like the dining table. Dumpster doors parted, and the croc opened its mighty jaws and gnashed its mighty teeth but in vain.

The girls got dolls, Mermaid Barbies with long hair to comb, and a new feature, a rainbow canopy that lighted up in LED lights. Jasmine and Quetzali from Rio San Gabriel loved their Santa gift.

We all sang happy birthday to John Lacey, and then we lined up for our club picture. A few chairs were put in front and Angelo Cardono and I were invited to sit there. I leaned over and said, “They’re putting the old folks down in front,” and Angelo said back, clear as a bell, “Speak for yourself, kid.”

When we returned to our tables, like magic the children had vanished. Not one crumb of candy or green peppermint stick was left. By 1:20 we were gone too.

Santa turned out to be Sam Mathis, of the Downey Optimist Club and busy benefactor of the Rancho Los Amigos Foundation.

“I’m 84,” said Sam, “and I’ve been doing this for years now. When I started, I had to use pillows to fill in, but now, it’s all me.”

“It isn’t about the presents,” Sam said. “It’s being together and celebrating.” Thanks, Santa, for signing the book that Rotary donates to the Downey City Library Children’s collection.

The weather outside had turned turbulent with a silvery gray sky as a mild Santa Ana was coming up. Santa stepped into his silver sedan, and away he flew, like the down on a thistle.

We hadn’t rotated around with our Greeting Song, so Rotarians hugged and kissed and shook hands as appropriate as they left. “See you next year.”

Downey Rotary brings Christmas joy to students