VAN NUYS : Snowy Carnival Aids Children’s Groups

On Saturday, 15 tons of snow will fall on a small patch of Van Nuys as part of a holiday celebration run by the H.E.L.P. group.

H.E.L.P.--which stands for Housing and Hearing, Education, Language and Learning, Psychology and Psychiatric Services Group--is an association of nonprofit agencies that help children with special needs, from those who have been abused and neglected to those who have learning disabilities.

Several hundred disabled children from all over Los Angeles will be at the 10th annual Holiday Family Carnival and Winter Wonderland, a fund-raising event for the H.E.L.P. group.

The carnival--which includes Santa Claus and a Hanukkah house--will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 13130 Burbank Blvd. in Van Nuys.

The public is invited to the carnival, which will include a 35- by 50-foot snow-covered play area, rides, games, clowns and holiday trees for sale.

Discounted toys will be sold at a “Toy Town.”

There will also be celebrity guests from television shows.

“It really is a special day for these children,” said Patti Hartmann, community relations coordinator for H.E.L.P. “We just wanted to come up with something that was new and fun for the kids.”

Many of the children served by H.E.L.P. have never experienced snow before, she said.

The snow is being made on the site by North Hollywood Ice, Hartmann said.

Parking is available across the street at Valley College.