Christmas comes early thanks to one F.I.S.H. that didn’t get away

Amy R. Spurgeon

COSTA MESA -- It was a busy day for the Santa’s helpers at Friends

In Service to Humanity.

More than 100 volunteers from the Newport-Mesa charity, affectionately

known as F.I.S.H., blanketed the area Sunday to deliver toys, Christmas

trees and food to 250 families.

“Muy bien,” said 36-year-old Costa Mesa resident Rosario Reyes, whose

four children were recipients of some of the glad tidings. “It makes me

happy.”

Non-English-speaking Reyes and her family will indeed have a merry

Christmas thanks to the nonprofit organization.

“It is very gratifying to see how many people volunteered their Sunday

before Christmas delivering food and presents to families to make sure

they have a Christmas,” said F.I.S.H. staffer Judy Mader. “Without the

generosity of the community this would not be able to happen.”

For more than 30 years, F.I.S.H. has been supplying food on a daily basis

to local families in need. The organization also helps with rent,

child-care and utilities in dire situations. It also has a mobile meal

program for the homebound as well as a “Homes with Hope” program that

assists homeless people achieve self-sufficiency.

Volunteers will take “care packages” to another 100 families Tuesday as

well as deliver goods to an additional 250 families through F.I.S.H’s

Adopt-A-Family program.”A lot of families in this area are a carburetor

away from being homeless,” Mader said. “Because if that goes and they

need to fix it -- there goes the rent money.”

And families living that closely to their income certainly don’t have

anything left for Christmas, Mader said.Meanwhile, back on Maple Street

two of Reyes’ children played outside on the sidewalk with a friend. They

were filled with excitement after the day’s big delivery.

“Merry Christmas,” they said, waving their hands wildly. “Merry

Christmas.”