Holiday Program for Disadvantaged Kids

PORT HUENEME —  At least 200 disadvantaged children will get a taste of winter Dec. 20 at Port Hueneme’s “Destination: North Pole” celebration.

Participating children, ages 3 to 9, will be from the Head Start program, Project Understanding and foster-care centers.

Sponsored by KCET-TV and the nonprofit California Central Coast World Trade Center Assn., the event will feature storytellers from the television station’s “Storytime” and “Reading Rainbow” programs.

Other activities will include visiting with Sparky the fire dog, bouncing around “moon jumpers” and opening holiday gifts. And Santa Claus will chug into town via the Ventura County Railway.

“It’s our gift to the children,” said Rosanne Bell, the World Trade Center’s program director. “While we’re a nonprofit that serves export and trading companies, we want the community to know we’re here for the children too.”

The event, which will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., is free and open to the public. Food is available for a small fee. For information and directions, or to donate toys, call Bell at 988-1406.