Welcome to the website for Desert Christian News. We are a local, non-profit Christian media corporation in the Coachella Valley. We are dedicated to sharing the Good News. Our goal is to serve as a platform to inform, educate and encourage Christians in the desert communities by sharing articles and stories written by local authors about things happening in the local community and beyond in Desert Christian News the newspaper and covering local ministries and events on Desert Christian News TV and Radio.

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Feature Article

THERMAL — “You see those kids?” Linda points toward a group of sixth-graders at Westside School in Thermal. “They have known me since kindergarten.” They grew up with Linda, Operation Smile Saver, and The Salvation Army.

For eight years Linda Tucker, a Salvation Army volunteer, has been saving smiles and self esteem for some of our valley’s most economically disadvantaged children. She started Operation Smile Saver because of concern about their health. Married to retired dentist, Gerry, Linda knows the health problems poor dental hygiene can cause.

When she found out that toothbrushes and toothpaste could not be purchased with food stamps, she was spurred to action and now serves almost 1,500 children. Ninety percent of the funds come from public donations in The Salvation Army’s Red Kettles. The remainder Linda makes up through recycling and designated private donations.

Linda’s concern for these kids consumes her; she clips coupons and watches sales all year. In January the team of Salvation Army volunteers gives toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, school supplies and uniforms to every student at Westside and Oasis schools in Thermal. Many of these children have never had a toothbrush of their own, which is apparent in happy smiles dotted with silver teeth.

Linda visits the schools all year. She encourages them to do well in school and give back to their community. They see that latter lesson first hand when Linda’s army of volunteers arrives with an outpouring of Jesus’ love in smiles, hugs and a special bag with a red shield.

Graduating sixth-graders is bittersweet for Linda, making her weepy. She watched them grow up and helped shape their world. She thinks of them as her “children.” Now, as they leave their Westside nest, she hopes they will continue the legacy, that they will bring up their own “children” – those they touch in their lives – in her legacy of reaching out. “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

You can be part of Linda’s legacy, too, by volunteering your time, treasure, and talents to The Salvation Army, (760) 324-2275.