How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Organizers of a grassroots Roseland Christmas celebration say about $6,000 worth of toys to be given to needy children Sunday were stolen last week.

For 12 years, the Alvarez family, owners of Joyeria Maria and Maria?s Market at Dutton Avenue Plaza in Santa Rosa?s Roseland neighborhood, has hosted a community Christmas celebration with free toys and pictures with Santa the Sunday of the week before Christmas.

This Sunday, they are expecting to give toys to 5,000 children at store from noon to 2 p.m.

But company President Freddie Alvarez found most of the toys missing Thursday when he went to check on the growing pile in a granny unit on their rental property.

?I went to do a count, I went to check everything and it was all gone, empty. I thought somebody maybe got there before me, but I had the truck, so how could they?? Alvarez said.

His brother, Eddie Alvarez, said his stomach dropped when he heard the news.

?For 12 years, we?ve been doing this and there?s no way we can stop. The kids come for it. They expect it. We can?t let them down. And Scrooge may have tried to do us wrong but we won?t let him,? Eddie Alvarez said

The Alvarez family estimated they lost $6,000 to $7,000 worth of dolls, games and other toys.

But they said they are trying to buy as many as toys as possible to replace those stolen and Sunday?s celebration will go on as scheduled.

?Who could go so low as to steal toys? It makes you just want to take a swing at ?em. But we?re going to show ?em that they didn?t break Christmas,? Freddie Alvarez said.