CHRISTMAS DUTY PALMDALE DEPUTIES STAND IN FOR SANTA.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

PALMDALE - More than 20 Palmdale families who feared they wouldn't be able to give their kids anything for Christmas this year received a welcome surprise when two Palmdale deputies knocked on their doors with presents in hand.

Although the gift giving by the Palmdale sheriff's station had become a tradition over the past several years, the recent economic slump took away funding, forcing deputies to cancel the event.

That's when several local businesses, the Palmdale Sheriff's Booster Club and various private citizens stepped up to the plate donating money.

``It was like an angel all of a sudden coming out of nowhere and helping us out,'' said Deputy Dave Miklos who along with Deputy Johnie Jones handed out the presents. ``It was just amazing how it all came together.''

More than 80 children were given presents during the two hour gift-giving event as Miklos and Jones went door to door playing Santa Claus.

Miklos even spent his morning driving to Northridge Hospital to give an Acton teen injured in a car crash a CD player and accessories. The boy's family was inundated with medical expenses and unable to provide much of a Christmas for him.

Typically families who hit hard times go to the station and put their names on a list. Miklos and Jones then try to determine where the greatest need is and purchase presents for those children. The money for the presents, which can range from $500 to $1,000, is donated to each station in Los Angeles County through Sheriff's Relief, an organization that helps out deputies and their families in hard times as well as providing other services.

This year, officials with Sheriff's Relief notified deputies at each station that because of recent economic hardship, the donations would not be made.

Miklos and Jones called the families on their list and told them that they would not be able to give out presents this year. Last week, however, two local businesses, which asked to remain anonymous, donated more than $600 while the Boosters Club and various members of the club who contributed privately chipped in about $300.

Jones' wife, Darlene volunteered for the task of designated shopper and with her two daughters by her side and her list in hand took to the stores. When the Palmdale Wal-Mart found out what they were doing, the store knocked off 10 percent on all their purchases.

``I think it's nice,'' Darlene Jones said. ``I had a good time shopping.''

``This really made her Christmas,'' Johnie Jones added. ``You could tell she enjoyed it.''

Miklos and Jones were then back on the phones calling families and telling them that the event was back on and that they would be knocking on their doors between noon and 2 p.m.

One family they visited had three girls - Kymberly, 6, Amanda 9, and Amber, 12 - who gave something back to Miklos and Jones. The girls had drawn them each pictures to hang on their office walls.

``This is really nice,'' said Henry Rodriguez, the girls' father. ``It's a blessing in disguise. We didn't think it was going to happen, so it really was a surprise.''

``They called and said they weren't going to make it,'' said Donnel Sereika, whose son, D.J., and three nieces - Barbara, Valerie and Krystal - were given presents. ``I was surprised and so happy about it. It's fantastic.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Kymberly, left, and Amanda Rodriguez receive Christmas presents from Deputies Johnie Jones, second from right, and Dave Miklos. The two men delivered presents door-to-door on Saturday to more than Palmdale families.

(2) Dave Miklos, left, Darlene Jones and her husband, Johnie Jones, carry presents for delivery to Palmdale children as part of Christmas gift giving.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer