As the fall semester draws to a close and students prepare for a hard-earned break, Mesa College’s own professor Jeff Berry prepares for his annual Christmas trip to Ensenada on Dec. 20 and 21, where he and a group of volunteers will distribute gifts and serve dinner to approximately 350 people over the course of the weekend.

Although the Christmas trip is special, Berry has made the trip to Ensenada once or twice a month for the past seven years. There, he and volunteers visit and bring donations to Colonia 89, a poor community of mostly single mothers whose husbands are serving time in a nearby prison. Berry is able to donate so much of his time and energy by keeping in touch with a local pastor and his family, and using their church as a gathering place.

During the past year, a little girl who regularly attended Berry’s events suddenly disappeared. It was later realized that the National System for Integral Family Development, Mexico’s version of Child Protective Services, had rescued her from an abusive home situation. The news of this widened Berry’s interests to also include the orphanage where this young girl now stayed.

Frequent trips and donations require volunteers in order to be successful, even more so for the Christmas trip. Volunteers include college students, high school students, and non-students alike. Last year, about 15 people accompanied Berry, five of whom stayed the night to volunteer the second day. This year, greater amounts of people are showing interest in the trip.

Those unable to attend the trip are still able to contribute by donating items or cash to Berry, whose office is currently stocked with goods.

When Berry and his group of volunteers arrive in Ensenada later this month, they will spend their day first preparing gift bags in an assembly-line style to be given to the children of Colonia 89 and the orphanage. These gift bags will consist of donated goods ranging from necessities, such as toiletries and school supplies to toys, such as dolls, cars and marbles.

Once the bags are completed, they will be loaded up and taken to Colonia 89. There, games and activities will be held for the children through the church, and a gift bag will be distributed to each child. In addition, each family will also receive a blanket.

Berry and his volunteers also serve dinner to everyone in the community. On this year’s menu is a pizza party, per request of the children, according to Berry.

After the first day, many volunteers will return to San Diego, but a few will stay to lend a hand at the orphanage the second day. The orphanage has lesser amounts of children than Colonia 89, and therefore requires fewer volunteers.

The second day is similar to the first in that volunteers will play games and do activities with the children, pass out gift bags and throw them a pizza party.

“It gives them some hope and encouragement,” said Berry of his frequent visits and donations to Colonia 89 and the orphanage, “I think the relationship is so important.”

Anyone interested in donating time, goods or cash to this cause can contact Berry as soon as possible.