Santa’s little helpers

Andrew Glazer

COSTA MESA -- A local charity organization is looking for a few good

Santas early next week.

Uniforms, reindeer and sleds are not required, but vans, minivans and

Jeeps are encouraged.

Volunteers from Share Our Selves will deliver Christmas dinners and gifts

to area schools Wednesday, which in turn will distribute them to 1,500

low-income Orange County families.

The group is seeking volunteers to help sort the packages on Monday and

Tuesday and deliver them.

“It will be really fun,” said Karen Harrington, director of development

for the Costa Mesa-based group offering a variety of services to needy

families. “It’s a very organized operation.”

In the past, Girl Scouts, church groups and school volunteers helped with

the Christmas packing and deliveries.

The food and gifts are a part of the group’s “Adopt a Family” program.

Last month, Share Our Selves sent out thousands of newsletters to Orange

County homes, asking them to sponsor a low-income family by providing

them with a turkey dinner, new gifts or both.

“It’s not an inexpensive or easy thing to do,” Harrington said.

Offices and individual donors also took part in food and gift drives to

pick up the slack for the 200 families that were not sponsored. One local

boat company, which asked to remain anonymous, donated 50 frozen turkeys

and $5,000, Harrington said.

“We make sure every family who signed up gets gifts and food,” Harrington

said.

Harrington said she’s thrilled that so many people have donated their

time and money to the program. But she said she wishes people could keep

giving all year.

“The needs of these people don’t go away in January,” she said. “Poverty

is a problem that needs to be addressed all year long.”

FYI

Anyone interested in helping prepare food and gift packages should go to

St. John’s Hall, 1015 Baker St., from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday and

Tuesday.

Those who want to help with deliveries should be at St. John’s Hall

before 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Share Our Selves also welcomes food and new gift donations at St. John’s

Hall before 12 p.m. on Wednesday.

Information: (949) 642-3451.