Rescue for Iraq War Veteran
Navidad en el Barrio provides Christmas Gifts and Hope

By KRIV Fox Television Houston
Published: Friday, December 25, 2009 8:31:57 A.M. Central Standard Time

Burglarized Family Gets Christmas Surprise

An area soldier who's apartment was vandalized and burglarized thought Christmas for his kids was stolen along with the presents but that isn't the case. Santa and his elves stepped in. Well, Santa in spirit. Retired Houston Police Officer Izzy Gomez has been making the holidays special for Houston families for more than 20 years.

Gomez started the group "Navidad En El Barrio" more than two decades ago. Gomez says he spends every Christmas Eve giving to Houston families because he knows there is a need. "There's a lot of people in our city that don't get to eat, don't get to open presents" says Gomez.

Last week Johnnie and Ana Marie Jayroe had their Northeast Houston apartment burglarized and trashed. Johnnie is an Iraq War veteran. He was recently medically discharged from the U.S. Army. He says he never thought coming home and giving his kids a good Christmas would be such a battle. "It's pretty bad. I mean I knew we didn't live in the best of neighborhoods but I never expected it" says Jayroe. Someone broke into the family's home and stole everything from electronics to food and all the kids Christmas presents.

When Gomez heard about the Jayroe's he didn't waste anytime rounding up his elves and the Jolly Old Elf himself. Gomez, Santa and a number of other retired HPD officers delivered bags of toys, bikes and food to the Jayroe family. "Oh I'm very thankful. It's overwhelming. I'm like speechless right now really" says Ana Marie Jayroe. Gomez and his gang was only getting started. The 7 car Christmas caravan delivered bags of goodies to 11 Houston families all before the clock struck midnight.

To make donations or to volunteer go to www.navidadenelbarrio.org.