One hundred children staying at the migrant labor camp on
Southside Road will be receiving a visit from some Christmas angels
this year
– but maybe not the kind you’d expect.
Hollister – One hundred children staying at the migrant labor camp on Southside Road will be receiving a visit from some Christmas angels this year – but maybe not the kind you’d expect.
You won’t find any wings or halos on 10 year old Nicolette Perazzo or her friends, just a desire to make a difference in their communities using the two things they love best: Sewing and dollies.
Just over a year ago, Perazzo was inspired to start “Angel Babies” while decorating the Emmaus House battered women’s shelter with her mother.
“She saw that there was only one little doll for all the children in the shelter to play with,” said her mother, Diana Perazzo. “And she asked me if she could donate some of her dolls.”
Nicolette wasn’t satisfied with giving away her own dolls. She and her mom started collecting dolls from friends and looking for deals on dollies at garage sales, taking them home to clean up and give away to the less fortunate.
Using a newly-acquired sewing machine, Perazzo honed her skills by sewing tiny blankets to keep each doll warm. While waiting for Emmaus House to open, she started giving the dolls to kids at Chamberlain’s Children Center in batches of a dozen or so. Nicolette estimates that she’s given away 250 dolls in the past year.
“Chamberlain’s calls us when they have children coming into their emergency shelter,” said Diana. “We’re able to give them a doll when they really need it.”
For Christmas, Nicolette wanted to do something extra special. A neighbor who volunteers with the migrant camp suggested that Nicolette might donate some of her dolls to the needy children of migrant workers, but to fill such a large order, she would need the help of her friends. Taylor Randoe, Valerie Quezada and Simone Cooper threw in their lot with Nicolette three months ago, and the four started getting together once a week for several hours at a time, sewing blankets and preparing the dolls for their new home.
“Nicolette is my best friend,” say Randoe, also 10. “She wanted me to help with Angel Babies and I said yes, because I love to sew and I want to help people.”
The girls are having a wrapping party this Saturday to put the finishing touches on their dolls, and will deliver the presents on Christmas Eve. Nicolette’s mother says this will be the largest batch of dolls ever donated at once.
“The kids at the camp are all different ages,” said Nicolette. “Some of the girls look my age, and some look like they’re four years old … it’s important for me to meet them in person, so they know someone cares about them.”
After Christmas, Angel Babies is looking to start donating dolls to children undergoing extensive hospital stays, but haven’t yet found an organization to work through.
“The girls have really taken this project and made it their own, and Nicolette has really blossomed learning to help other people,” said Mrs. Perazzo. “I’ll still be involved, but I think I’ll let them do most of the talking from now on.”
“I’m really glad I started this Christmas project,” said Nicolette. “I’ve learned a lot about helping people, and I’ve learned a lot about sewing, too.”
Anyone interested in donating to Angel Babies, or anyone who knows a cause in need of a few good dolls, can email Nicolette and her mom at [email protected].
