The Kings County Sheriff's Office will once again take to the streets this year as part of their Christmas for Kings program, where food and toys are hand-delivered to local families in need.

Last year's efforts raised more than $8,000 and ultimately helped feed 110 different families. The Sheriff's Office called it a "huge success."

This year, they want to increase the number to 125.

"The sheriff (Chris Jordan) feels very strongly that all kids should have a chance to open presents on Christmas morning," said Administrative Sgt. Jeff Torres, a coordinator for the event.

To meet their goal, deputies and volunteers will stand out on street corners during the Black Friday holiday shopping rush later this month and ask for donations until noon.

"The response we get every year is great," Torres said. "We are the agency facilitating the program, but it's the community itself that funds it."

This money is then coupled with other funding sources to pay for food and toys in vast quantities.

"When we talk about feeding families, we're not just talking about Christmas dinner," Torres explained. "The idea is to give a family enough food to last them at least a week."

In the past, food gift baskets included a few pounds of beans and rice, some cake mix, dressing, canned vegetables and even a Christmas turkey complete with stuffing.

The baskets will be delivered Dec. 17-18 by deputies, citizen volunteers, personnel from Lemoore Naval Air Station and even Jordan himself.

"We don't just send these gifts in the mail or tell the families to come down to the Sheriff's Office and get them," Torres said. "We actually go out and hand-deliver them. The idea is to show people that we really do care about them. All of the presents are individually wrapped and selected for the children, so when they find it under the tree, it'll have his or her name on it."

Needy families are identified in part through the county school systems.

"Schools know when a person can really use a hand," Torres said. "They see these kids come in and out every day, sometimes without lunch money, sometimes without even good clothes on."

Torres said this ensures that no one will abuse the system when it's time to give the gifts.

"We try to make sure the families we give to are not double-dipping out there," he said. "Not because we don't want to give them extra help, but because we want to make sure we help the widest span of people possible. And I know there are more than 100 needy families out there."

Those wishing to donate to the event can find volunteers out on the corners of Mall Drive and 12th Avenue along with 11th Avenue and Lacey Boulevard on Nov. 27.

Or, for something more immediate, the Sheriff's Office Citizens on Patrol will be holding a raffle over the next few weeks, with the proceeds going toward this program. St. James Lutheran Church in Hanford has also agreed to match every dollar raised in the raffle.

Prizes include a Nintendo Wii game system, a personal mini-DVD player, a handmade quilt and gift certificates from Boston House of Pizza and Applebee's.

The drawing will be held on Dec. 11 with Sheriff Jordan on hand to select the winners. Tickets are on sale for $2 each at the Sheriff's Office in the Kings County Government Center.

Torres said he anticipates that this year's show of community support will easily match what they've seen in the past seven years of Christmas for Kings.

"If people can help others out, they do," he said. "The community of Kings County has never let us down. It doesn't surprise me how much these people give, but I'm always pleased by it."

The reporter can be reached at 583-2425.

(Nov. 5, 2009)