CCA comes through for Sheriff’s Office during holidays
December 31, 2009
trivalleycentral.com
Eloy Detention Center Warden Chuck
DeRosa gets a handshake and a
“challenge coin” from Pinal County
Sheriff Paul Babeu last Tuesday
for donating over 2,300 toys to the
children of Pinal County. Babeu and
his staff accepted the toys that were
brought in by Eloy and LaPalma
Detention Centers. The Pinal County
Sheriff’s office distributed the
toys to needy kids of Pinal County
during
the holidays.
Photos & source by Robby Gal/ East valley tribune staff
Eloy Detention Center Warden Chuck DeRosa had a big surprise for the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Paul Babeu this Christmas.
On Tuesday, Dec. 22, the Eloy and LaPalma detention centers donated over 2,300 toys to the Sheriff’s Office to distribute to children during the holidays.
Warden DeRosa got word two weeks earlier that they needed toys for Pinal County children, and his staff wasted no time coming through. “Some of these people donated their own private collections of Matchbox cars and toys that they’ve been collecting for over a decade,” Warden DeRosa explained. “We just felt like this was the least we could do to help the needy in Pinal County. It’s better to give than receive at Christmas.”
Warden DeRosa communicated what was needed and both Eloy and LaPalma staffs got to work.
“It was really a concerted effort from the two facilities, and next year we want to fill a tractor trailer with toys for these kids,” DeRosa said.
The toys, which consisted of games, books, dolls, matchbox cars, bikes, and much more, filled up the conference room of the Eloy Detention Center. Sheriff Paul Babeu and his staff were overwhelmed by the generosity of the two detention centers. Babeu spoke about how he goes to crime scenes all the time and it’s easy to forget about all the good people do. But with the generosity of Eloy and LaPalma, he was quick to explain the good he sees every day, as well.
Babeu told the onlookers at Eloy Detention Center about how the generosity reminded him of his favorite movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The charitable ways of the detention centers was reminiscent of the spirit shown in the holiday classic. Babeu explained that early in the movie the troubles were money-related, but after some examination and help from family, all the happiness had nothing to do with money.
“Representing all of us at the Sheriff’s Office and you (Chuck DeRosa) as the representative of CCA, the number one employer here in Pinal County and we often forget how much you do for this County,” Babeu said. “The professionalism you all carry yourself with makes us here at the Sheriff’s Office proud to stand with you.”
Babeu was especially excited about how quickly the detention centers were able to bring in as many toys as they did. With two weeks of time, the amount of toys that came in was staggering.
Warden DeRosa was given a freshly minted “challenge coin” from Sheriff Babeu and a handshake as a token of his appreciation and friendship for the effort that was made to bring in toys during the holidays.
Sheriff Babeu and his staff took 16 children shopping over the holidays for clothes and supplies a couple weeks ago. All of the children had been involved in some traumatic incident.
A 3-year-old Maricopa boy, Jalen Mariano, had dragged his 1-year-old sister from a house fire in Maricopa on Nov. 20. The fire killed Jalen’s mother.
Sheriff Babeu got to shop with Jalen and ask him what he needed as they shopped at Target in Casa Grande. Jalen and his family lost everything they had and would be without if not for the Pinal County Sheriff’s office and the generosity of the public.
“To go shopping and see him light up was an eye opener,” Babeu said. “Any of our difficulties in life seem much smaller. We have our own troubles, but this means a lot and to be able to put a smile on a kids face was incredible.”
The Sheriff’s office distributed the toys they received from Eloy and LaPalma Detention Centers over the holidays. The children who were in need over the holidays were much like Jalen and his family. But the key for the Sheriff’s Office and the CCA Eloy and LaPalma was that when they needed help, and all involved stepped up.
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