Little ones give thanks a week early

Jeff Benson

Olivia Swanson is only 3, but she still said she’s thankful for more

than the turkey and veggies she ate at school Friday.

“I’m thankful for my mommy, because Mommy lets me play over by the

grass,” she said. “Now I’m a big kid.”

Olivia and her 120 preschool classmates joined more than 350

Orange Coast College faculty and staff and community supporters for

an early Thanksgiving-style feast Friday afternoon at OCC’s Harry &

Grace Steele Children’s Center.

The event marked the first time in the school’s 25-year

Thanksgiving tradition that the college’s employees were invited to

eat with their children, center director Lucy Groetsch said. Many of

OCC’s faculty members have children who attend the center during the

day.

“This event has grown and grown over the years until we decided to

invite past and present employees from the entire OCC campus,”

Groetsch said.

“It’s really our opportunity to honor the people who have

contributed to our program over the years.”

The Orange Coast College Foundation donated $1,500 for the meals,

foundation director Doug Bennett said. Campus food services prepared

and served the food.

OCC counselor Rob Schneiderman, 38, came over on his lunch break

to eat with his 5-year-old son, Benjamin.

“It’s really nice,” Schneiderman said. “You come over on lunch and

your kids are here.

“Not that many get the opportunity to have their kids like 100

yards from where they work.”

The children’s center is licensed by the California Department of

Social Services and monitored by the Department of Education.

The center works with children aged 6 months to 6 years.

“We’re really trying to open up our doors to the community because

our waiting list has really diminished due to a younger student

population at the college,” Groetsch said. “We’re here for members of

the community who need early care and education support while they’re

at school or work.”