Christmas is this photographer's favorite holiday, and not because of the gifts, but for the time that I get to spend with my daughter and family. It feels good to go back home to Houston, Texas, and spend time with my loved ones since I don't get a chance to see them as often as I'd like since relocating to California. I guess that's one of the reasons why I enjoy participating in the annual Juegetes Para El Barrio ("toys for the hood") event put on by Houston's Latin Fantasy Car Club.
Every December, Latin Fantasy C.C. continues to do what they do best and that's bring together an entire community by sharing the Christmas spirit with the less fortunate in "H-town." Juegetes Para El Barrio has been cruising the streets and visiting low income neighborhoods and government housing projects to deliver toys, goodie bags filled with snacks and pan dulce for 15 consecutive years.
Latin Fantasy C.C. founder Sotero "Shorty" Villareal and family began this tradition as an example to the community that lowriding can have a positive effect. The best thing is that this tradition keeps growing over the years. Latin Fantasy holds different car shows and various functions during the year to raise enough money to be able to purchase more than 6,000 toys that are distributed early Christmas morning.
The event actually begins on Christmas Eve when Latin Fantasy C.C. members begin to stuff more than 5,000 goodie bags. Then, while most people are still asleep, volunteers get up early Christmas morning and meet up at the Ripley house. The procession begins at 9 a.m., rain or shine, with a full police escort.
Using train horns, sirens or, as in my case, a giant matraka, we make all kinds of noise, waking up everyone in the neighborhood as we cruise by slowly in a caravan of lowriders. In the lead is the "gray sleigh" with a bed full of toys and "Pancho Clause," who greets the kids as they pull up to the truck, some still in their pajamas, excited to be able to grab a toy.
The joy of bringing a smile to a kid on this special day is worth the time and makes you think of what you have in life. I truly appreciate spending time with Latin Fantasy C.C. members and cruising with the big homie "Chuca" and his family in his convertible Cadillac.
Latin Fantasy C.C. would like to thank its sponsors, including Walmart #3425, Furniturebankhouston.org, Tierra Caliente Produce, Fiesta Taxi Cab, Reyes Produce, Fiesta Mart, The United Lowrider Association, and especially their families, friends and everyone else who has helped make this event possible for the past 15 years. Remember to support Latin Fantasy so that they can bring a few thousand more smiles to the less fortunate.