– Courtesy photo
By Susie Ling
“When I was little in the 1950s, I think it was the Monrovia’s Firemen’s Association that would come to our little house on Royal Oaks Drive at Christmas time. They would bring a turkey and all the trimmings. That made such an impression on me. It was such a thrill to see them come through our door,” said Teresa McKinn. Teresa was the 10th child of the Bocanegra family. Her father was born in Mexico and worked for the Monrovia Nursery. Teresa’s sister, Christina Valenzuela, – the 11th child of the family – reminisced, “Mrs. Mary Biasotti had a tiny store next to her brother’s gas station [on Shamrock and Walnut]. She was a little thing with white hair and black orthopedic shoes. At Christmas, she would ride her bike over to our house. She would bring us candy and cookies. Of course, it is my turn to give back now.”
Celia and Johnny Romero both remember Monrovia’s Toy Loan program when they were children in the 1940s. Johnny believes the Toy Loan program was organized by Monrovia’s Fire Department then. Celia said, “They would lend you a toy for two weeks. You had to take very good care of it and return it in good condition.” Chalo Valenzuela also remembers, “My parents, however, wouldn’t let me pick up a toy from the Toy Loan program, but I would go by to check it out.” Celia’s husband, Johnny, remembers lining up at Monrovia Library Park to receive toys and candy during Christmas.
Teresa, Christina, Celia, Johnny, and Chalo are members of the Monrovia Latino Heritage Society. About 25 members of this organization brought toys to contribute to Monrovia Fire Department’s Spark of Love Toy Drive. President of the Monrovia Latino Heritage Society, Louie Romero, said “Most of us in this organization grew up in Monrovia and we now work hard to raise money to give back to today’s kids. Participating in the Monrovia toy drive just seems a natural extension of who we are as an organization.” Celia continued, “There are always kids that are less fortunate. It is important to all of us to pass on the gift of Christmas to the next generation.”
Monrovia Latino Heritage Society collected several car sets, dolls, books, and game sets for the Spark of Love Toy Drive. At their Christmas meeting, they also talked about other fundraising efforts scheduled for 2017 to help their Scholarship project. Henry Olivas said, “We only came together as an organization in 2011 but we have done photo exhibits at the Monrovia Museum; we have produced calendars; and we really are focused on helping young people achieve their educational dreams with our Scholarship Project.” Louie Romero added, “We Latinos have always been part of Monrovia’s history.”
