For the past 41 years, Miracle on 31st Street has been making sure the less fortunate are not forgotten during the holiday season. This year the Christmas celebration will be held at Tucson Electric Park on Saturday Dec. 24 at 10 a.m.
The non-profit makes sure no child is without a present during the holidays by distributing toys to underprivileged children whose families cannot afford to put gifts under their tree.
Ramon Gonzales, who has been referred to as the Southside’s Santa Claus, is the driving force behind the organization. The event began more than 40 years ago at Gonzales’ 31st Street home in South Tucson where he held a holiday party with gifts and food for his nieces and nephews.
The first year he spent $125 to throw the celebration for about 15 kids. It slowly grew each year and children from all over the community came out to celebrate on 31st Street. It now has grown to bring out more than 9,000 children.“I guess I just enjoy seeing the kids smile and everything when they see Santa Claus arrive. You can see them real happy,” said Gonzales. “Normally you can see the helicopter circling around and you can see the kids out there yelling and shouting. When they receive the toys you can actually see that kind of happiness in their faces, so that makes me happy.”
The festivities begin when Santa Claus touches down at a park in a helicopter Christmas Eve morning.
Gonzales’ house is normally overflowing with toys, with rooms filled to the ceiling. They should start filling up in the coming weeks. He has set this years’ goal to collect 20,000 toys for low-income families across the City of Tucson and South Tucson.
Look for the Miracle on 31st Street bus that will be parked around town collecting donations. Donations can also be sent to 2019 W. Ajo Way.
“It’s all through the community. I don’t do this party, it’s the community that does it,” said Gonzales. “Maybe somebody will come in and donate one little doll, another will come and donate 30-40 dolls. It just varies. You cannot give credit to one person. It’s a whole bunch of people that come together to do it.”
Volunteers and businesses from across the community help provide the food, music and entertainment for the big day.
“We’ve seen it grow from just a neighborhood thing, and then the party grew so big that they moved,” said Orlando Alva, manager of Silver Saddle Steakhouse.
The Silver Saddle Steakhouse has been partnered with Miracle on 31st Street for the past 28 years and will be providing food.
“We do like to give back as well because they are a very important piece of our success. South Tucson supports us very well,” said Alva.
Gonzales is eager for this year’s event.
“Hopefully this year, God willing, it’s a big success,” said Gonzales.
