A donor to the Third Annual Winter Fun Festival in Los Banos plans to have 1,600 toys that will be given out for free to families in need. Doña Reclamos, whose real name is Jocelyn Valenzuela, plans to give out the toys at the festival according to a phone interview with the Westside Express.
Event hosts, Sandoval Wood Creations (SWC) and Starbucks, plan to give away free hot chocolate, pastries, two dance performances and free jumpers to play on.
According to event organizer Domingo Sandoval, the Winter Fun Festival has been held by SWC and Starbucks, in the parking lot of the Starbucks next door to Cookie Crumbl for three years. The event will last from 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 14 at 1363 W Pacheco Blvd.
According to Sandoval, there will be four free jumpers for kids to play on and live dance performances by Folklorico Los Colibris and Danza Aztec Xipe. Families in attendance can also meet Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus at the event.
According to Manny Ramirez, the store manager of the Starbucks location who is physically hosting the event, all five Starbucks in town are chipping in to help. Ramirez has been with Starbucks for 12 years and has lived in Los Banos for four years.
“I just always like to help the community, in any way I can and give back,” Ramirez said. “If you want to have fun and start the holidays, this would be a good place to start.”
Special guest, Doña Reclamos, 31, is a local social media influencer who used her own money to buy the 1,600 toys. She lived in Salinas four years ago but fell in love with Los Banos on a trip.
This is her third year giving out toys. Her first time was in Los Banos and her second time was back in Salinas. This year her giveaway is back in town in Los Banos.
“When I was little, my parents didn’t have enough income,” Reclamos said. During her childhood, she’d wake up at 6 a.m. to get in line for free toys.
One of the women handing out the toys, Nancy, stuck in her memory. Reclamos remembers saying to herself as she grew up, “One day I’m going to be like Nancy and give out food and toys.”
It’s also the third year that Reclamos gives out blankets to the homeless. The online name she goes by came from her audience after she made a ‘reclamo’ or complaint to a truck driver. Ever since then, she has gone by Doña Reclamos. Reclamos says to those in need, “Nothing is forever if right now you can’t provide for your family, tomorrow you will. Nothing is forever, keep that in mind.”
