Giving an early Thanksgiving

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- It was a rare sight. Mercedes, sport-utility vehicles

and other luxury cars lined Shalimar Street on Tuesday as members of the

business community hosted a food drive in one of the city’s most

impoverished areas.

Members of the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce hosted the Thanksgiving

for Costa Mesa Food Drive at the Shalimar Learning Center for the third

year in a row. The event was organized by CM900, a division of the

chamber dedicated to community service.

About 150 people lined up to receive turkey, green beans, fruit,

tortillas, salsa, milk, corn and cans of refried beans -- “everything you

need for a traditional Thanksgiving meal,” attorney and Latino community

activist Manfredo Lespier said in Spanish.

About 35 businessmen traded in their suits and set up an assembly line

on what used to be one of the city’s most notorious streets. Volunteers

were busy packing up Thanksgiving feasts for the droves of needy people

who came to collect.

“This is a great way to give back to the community you do business

in,” said Jeff Teller, who operates the Market Place on the Orange County

Fairgrounds.

Costa Mesa Police Chief Dave Snowden said he was especially happy to

help because of the progress that has been made in the neighborhood.

“This was my favorite project,” Snowden said. “I’m so proud to be here

today.”

Costa Mesa resident Margarita Mercado -- who came with five of her

friends -- sifted through her box of food, excitedly listing the items

she received.

“They even gave us milk,” she said in Spanish.

Also a part of the group, Angelina Manzo said if it weren’t for the

generosity of the chamber members and the Shalimar Learning Center, her

family of six would have a very modest Thanksgiving feast.

Her 3-year-old daughter, with long, curly lashes framing her

almond-shaped eyes, said she brought her teddy bear to get some food

also. She pulled the ragged green bear in a little blue wagon as her mom

waited to get an extra box of provisions for a friend who was bedridden

with cancer.

“We do this for Christmas too,” the toddler said.