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Books & Bears a five-year tradition at Sinclear School
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Students smiled and giggled Thursday as they marched in line with gifts in hand, headed for a utility trailer being loaded up by Ceres firefighters.

Since Sinclear Elementary School opened five years ago, the Bears & Books program has been a holiday tradition. Students contribute a book and stuffed animal, wrap them and donate them to the Ceres Fire Department. The gifts are then distributed to two sources.

Rich Scola of the Ceres Fire Department said the gifts go to St. Jude's Catholic Church which has 300 low-income families which are sponsored for gifts. The books and bears also are taken to the Modesto Gospel Mission on Yosemite Boulevard in Modesto.

A total of 75 cellophane wrapped packages were picked up Thursday morning.

Students also got to participate in a photo op with a large fire engine and several firefighters before loading up their gifts and going back to the classroom.