WEST SACRAMENTO – The Ziggurat building in West Sacramento has been the site of tremendous generosity this holiday season as the Department of General Services (DGS) employees headquartered there and across the region donated more than 1,000 gifts to local children and seniors throughout Sacramento.

Today, DGS' Chief Deputy Director Will Semmes helped Santa as he delivered more than 700 gifts to local school kids and their siblings at West Sacramento's Golden State Middle School and Elkhorn Village Elementary School.  Last week, DGS staff delivered nearly 400 gifts, including more than a dozen bikes, to Sacramento County Department of Health and Human Services officials for their Gifts from the Heart campaign. 

"It is really a great feeling to give back to the community this holiday season," said Semmes.  "Director Will Bush and I are so proud of the generosity of our employees this season as they have taken the time to open their hearts and wallets to help those less fortunate than us this season."

For the past six years, DGS' Spirit of Giving program for West Sacramento kids has been working with local schools to identify children and their siblings in need of gifts for the holidays.  Volunteer staff then helps DGS employees "adopt" children for the season and provide them with Santa wish lists from the children.

Similarly, Sacramento County's Gifts from the Heart program has given DGS staff the opportunity for several years to provide gifts to local children and seniors that have been abused, neglected, or may have no families to share the holiday with. 

                                                                                            #  #  #