The Christmas Guardian Angel Program is back.

That’s the Ray of Hope Children’s Crisis and Resource Services wish-list scrolls benefiting children who are encountering homelessness, at risk, or lacking in basic needs.

The Christmas Guardian Angel scrolls will be available on Monday, Nov. 25, for groups, families, or individuals interested in granting wishes to those children referred to Ray of Hope via San Joaquin County Children Protective Services, Second Harvest Food Bank, St. Paul’s Food Pantry, Give Every Child A Chance, teachers and other approved agencies.

“We have an unusual large number of children coming through who are homeless, living in care of others, or bouncing around from one place to another,” said Ray of Hope Executive Director Laura Vieira-Saunders.

She gave kudos to the Manteca Police Department, in particular, Officer Mike Kelly, who works with the homeless in town.

“He really stepped up and got one of our mothers who have been staying in her car with her three sick children in a hotel until shelter space becomes available,” Vieira-Saunders said.

She added: “Christmas is a time when kids can just be kids regardless of their circumstances – our goal is to assure that no child will ever wonders why he or she was forgotten.”

As for the Christmas Guardian Angels Program, Vieira-Saunders indicated that each scroll will consists of a child’s name, gender, favorite color, clothes size, and three wishes.

Ray of Hope is located at 113 W. Yosemite Ave.

For more information or to make a donation or become a Christmas Guardian Angel, call 209.883.6411, 209.597.0574 or log on to ChristmasGuardianAngels@rayofhopechildrenservices.org.