Rainy weather hampering Valley holiday activities

FRESNO, Calif.

Volunteers at the Toys for Tots tents at River Park braved the rain as they took donations for their annual holiday campaign.

The wet weather, though, is slowing down donations.

"I think maybe people get wet and rain and they don't like getting out of their cars and maybe its going to keep them indoors on a nice chilly day like today," William Cardinal of the U.S. Marine Corps said.

ABC30 is a proud sponsor of Toys for Tots. The Marine Corps is hoping to get more than 100 thousand toys just for Fresno County alone.

They're urging people to not let a little or even a lot of rain hurt Christmas for children in need this year.

"Please don't let the rain discourage you come on by come help us help a child this year so everybody can get a Christmas," Cardinal said.

All the rain forced the Fresno Chaffee Zoo to cancel its holiday Zoo Lights event for Saturday. Since Nov. 23 the zoo has decorated exhibits with festive lights for the public to enjoy.

Michelle Vargas drove down from Oregon to sell Christmas trees from her uncle's farm. So far over the weekend, though, business has been slow.

"It is hurting us. This should have been one of our big weekends because it's the first," Vargas said.

This is the first year Vargas is setting up her shop at Blackstone and Santa Ana. She hopes to weather clears a little bit so they can see more customers.

"Come see us, even if it's raining we'll be here," Vargas said.

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