Jose Orozco is an aspiring rapper and manager of his family's Cricket communications store he remembers some rough times growing up as a kid in an abusive household. "My mom she was abused by my dad he used to beat her, verbal abuse."
His family ran away to the Marjaree Mason Center when he was just 4-years-old. During their stay he took this picture with Santa and received a toy truck he still has to this very day.
"I looked really happy holding the one toy I got the whole Christmas," said Orozco.
The truck inspired Jose to hold a toy drive for kids who now live with their mothers at the Marjaree Mason Center. Justin Red says nearly 80 children and 70 mothers will spend Christmas in the shelter this year. "This holiday will be the most populated ever in our 30 year history."
Red says with a tough economy, the holidays can add additional stress to homes where there is domestic violence. He says the Marjaree Mason Center depends on things like teddy bears and small toys donated from the community. "To give them a sense of normalcy, we rely on people like Jose to give back to us."
Marjaree Mason Center
1600 M Street, Fresno
237-4706
www.mmcenter.org
Toy Donation Locations:
6763 North Cedar Avenue, Fresno - (559) 432-1010
3890 N Cedar Ave # 105, Fresno - (559) 222-8400
7273 North Blackstone Avenue - (559) 432-3205
603 W. Shaw Avenue, Clovis
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