GTWC and Paragon Tattoo Use Ink to Get Toys for Children

MORENO VALLEY>> A toy in exchange for a tattoo is not the first thing many people would think of when trying to come up with a charity idea to help kids in need. But Julius Vargas, owner of Paragon Tattoo Studio located in Moreno Valley, and Debbie Earle, former Grand Terrace Women’s Club president and current publicist, said they saw it as a great way to give to the community during the holiday season. In 2010, while Earle was the President of the Grand Terrace Women’s Club, she was contacted by Vargas who had just opened a new tattoo studio in town. Vargas was looking for ways he could get involved in the community and help out those in need. He came up with the idea of giving away tattoos in exchange for unwrapped toys that could be donated to children in need. This is how “Toys for Tats” was born. “When I first presented it to the board they were a bit shocked at the idea, but these guys had kind hearts and wanted to help out the kids in our community,” Earle said. Now, the Grand Terrace Women’s Club has been partnering with Vargas and his tattoo shop for the last seven years with success. On Sunday, Dec. 11, Vargas and his staff offered to do 3X3 tattoos for people that brought in unwrapped toys that were worth $15. “I just wanted to help out the community and give something back to those who needed it,” Vargas said. This is all done in order to help the Women’s Club Child Help Program where they help out children in need. Paragon Tattoo Studio provides the toys, the Grand Terrace Women’s Club provides clothes, and Grand Terrace Lion’s Club and Women’s Club both provides Stater Bros. Market gift cards. This year Paragon Tattoo Studio was able to collect a total of 225 toys for the Child Help Program. “Julius was completely involved throughout everything, he is a man with a heart of gold,” Earle said. Earle said she was grateful for the hard work that Vargas and Paragon Tattoo did for their program and all the hard work the Grand Terrace Women’s Club Chairman, Claire Kidd, did to keep this program running in great shape. As for Vargas, he said that he is just happy to do it and give a helping hand to those in need.