Locals donate gifts to needy children — PHOTOS

What does it take to get a gift to a needy child? In this case, the Doctor’s Bag Set gift started at the Wells Fargo corporate office where Tony Carro and his children arrived with the gift earlier this week. The family, who spend $400 on gifts this year, has been doing this for four years. From there the gift was trucked over to the Las Vegas Rescue Mission, 480 W. Bonanza Road, where Denzil Dixon, 15, a volunteer with Batteries Included Leadership Program, wrapped it. It was the first time he volunteered to wrap presents at the mission. On Saturday, 100 volunteers gave gifts to 1,499 children, the largest number in four years.

Sandra Velazquez arrived with her 10 children ranging from 3 to 14 years of age. A smiling Diana Velazquez, 3, rips the wrapping paper to reveal the her new toy while volunteer Carro stands in the background.

“This shows the kind of generosity and giving the community has,” said John Fogal, director of development for the facility. “There was a lot of thank you’s, smiles and tears because of the community.”