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.”
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.