When Burgundie Spears came home for Christmas in 2006, it was hard to watch her mother struggle to afford Christmas presents.  She said in that moment God sent her a vision to honor Christmas by giving to the homeless.

Earlier that year, as a sophomore at Howard University, Spears went on a missionary trip to Zimbabwe. What she saw there inspired her to help people less fortunate than herself.

“I felt obligated to serve my own community,” said Spears, who grew up in North Richmond.

When Spears’ family and friends asked what she wanted for her Dec. 19 birthday, she told them to give her food and clothes for homeless people in Richmond.  “I didn’t really take her seriously,” said Spears’ mother, Edna Campbell.

Spears assured her mother that she was serious and asked everyone she knew to help her collect enough to serve 100 people.

“The first year it was literally just my family,” Spears said.  Instead of opening packages on Christmas, Spears’ family spent the day serving food and giving out clothes at the Nevin Community Center.

The project is now known as Christmas in Richmond.  Each year Spears and her family add 100 people to the number served.  Last year they added a meals-on-wheels program.  This year, they’ve also committed to provide food and gifts to 25 families.

As an informal project, lacking tax-deductible status, Spears said it is difficult to get donations for Christmas in Richmond.  She hopes the program stands out as a unique effort led by Richmond residents.

“I wanted it to be personal, literally the type of clothes my family would wear and the food we would eat,” Spears said.

Spears said she especially hopes to inspire other young people to make a change.

“If you see the problem, step out and be the solution,” she said.

This year, at least 10 volunteers from the Bay Area Stop the Hate Movement will give up time with their families on Christmas Day to volunteer for Christmas in Richmond.

“It’s an honor to be out there and give something to someone during what I would consider my time,” said Timothy Jackson IV. Jackson founded the Bay Area Stop the Hate Movement two years ago to involve young people in positive efforts in the community.

Spears recently moved to Texas, so her mother is leading the efforts in Richmond. Instead of a Christmas tree and lights decorating their house, Campbell has a donation collection bin on her porch.  She and her 8-year-old daughter canvas the neighborhood with fliers in their spare time.

This year they are trying to serve 400 Richmond residents, but Campbell said she is far from that goal. The organization is especially in need of more toy donations. But Campbell said she has faith they will reach their goal.

“I don’t know when and how,” she said. “But it’s going to happen.”

With only two days to go, Richmond District Supervisors’ offices are only halfway toward meeting their goal of more than 300 new toys and 100 new coats for the students of Verde Elementary. The tough economy, plus a plethora of many other worthy causes, are the reasons that donations are lower this year, said District Supervisor John Gioia. The items most in need are children’s winter coats, sizes 6-16.

It is the 12th year that North Richmond’s Verde Elementary has been the recipient of this drive. District Supervisor chief of staff Luz Gomez is coordinating the effort. She said the school was chosen because of its location in an unincorporated part of Richmond, which means it often falls below the county’s radar.

While the school’s API score has been rising, Gomez said, the neighborhood remains one of the city’s poorest: All 326 students are on free or reduced lunches. According to the school’s 2008 Accountability Report Card, 65 percent of the children are English learners and 100 percent are socioeconomically disadvantaged.

The drive ends Monday. Santa Claus will visit the school and give out the toys at a holiday assembly on Friday. The coats are given out in a more discreet way. Teachers identify those who are most in need, Gomez said, and then the kids are surprised with the coat privately.

Gioia is urging people to continue to give, despite the hard times.

“For many, your generosity will provide the only gifts under the tree this year,” he writes through his electronic mailing list.

All donations may be dropped off at the District Supervisor’s office located at 11780 San Pablo Avenue, Suite D, El Cerrito, CA  94530. For any questions, call 510-374-3231.