By Marek Warszawski The Fresno Bee

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• Faces of Christmas '11: People making a difference

  Faces of Christmas '11: People making a difference

  In a year that's been hard on many, it shouldn't come as a surprise that many of this year's Faces of Christmas lend a hand to the homeless. But there are many other ways that the people included in this 17-year-old holiday tradition distinguish themselves.

• Fourth grade: Trinity Mikel, Manchester GATE

  Fourth grade: Trinity Mikel, Manchester GATE

  She may have been the only girl on the team, but when fourth-grader Trinity Mikel stepped onto the football field, she was fearless.

  The 9-year-old decided to mix up her usual activities of reading, dancing and homework last fall with a stint as linebacker on the Fresno Lions Youth Football team.

  Passing by football practice one day, Trinity asked, "Hey, Mom, can girls join that?" Melissa Mikel recalls.

• Faces of Christmas: Vicki Cooksey

  Faces of Christmas: Vicki Cooksey

  The basics: Vicki Cooksey, 59, of Fresno is a part-time reading tutor. She and her husband, Jerry, have three grown children.

  What she does: Cooksey co-founded a group through her church, Calvary Chapel Fresno, that makes scarves and hats for Fresno's homeless. She and Jerry also coordinate the local branch of Operation Christmas Child that collects shoeboxes filled with Christmas gifts for children around the world.

  Why she does it: "We like to do things for the community, to reach out to people," Cooksey said. "Every person has value. God knows them."

• Faces of Christmas: Bernice Tyler

  Faces of Christmas: Bernice Tyler

  The basics: Bernice Tyler, 48, works as a patient care technician at an assisted living facility. Her husband, Vernon L. Tyler, owns and operates a welding business in Selma, where the couple live.

  What she does: Tyler relies on money she and her husband contribute, donations from others and the grace of God to feed and clothe the homeless and provide school supplies and Christmas toys to children in the Fresno area. Tyler buys items and also accepts contributions of food, gloves, blankets, sleeping bags and other basic necessities. But she avoids accepting monetary donations because she would have to keep track through paperwork, which creates "red tape."

  Why she does it: Tyler said she is fortunate to have life's basic necessities and believes she should help those in need. "When God has made it possible that you have a roof over your head, shoes on your feet, a coat to keep you warm and food in your belly, do you know how blessed you are?" she said. "Blessings are to be shared."

• 10-year-old girl shot at Ohio restaurant dies

  10-year-old girl shot at Ohio restaurant dies

  A 10-year-old girl who was critically injured in April in a restaurant shooting by her father that killed her sister and her mother has died, family members said.