Assistance is league’s goal

Jeff Benson

The holidays may be a bit more enjoyable for nine Costa Mesa

families, thanks to the collaborative efforts of seven local

charities.

Nearly 75 volunteers from the Assistance League of Newport-Mesa

Community Outreach Program are assembling gift baskets to donate to

families. Referrals will be made by Costa Mesa Head Start, Families

Costa Mesa, Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter, Orange Coast College

Early Childhood Lab School, Save Our Youth and Serving People in

Need.

Each family gets a $100 gift certificate to its favorite grocery

store. They’ll also either receive items they designated on personal

wish lists, or a $150 gift card to Kmart, Target or Wal-Mart.

A handful of volunteers Thursday put the finishing touches on more

than 200 wrapped gifts, which will be sent to the families on various

days before Christmas, according to the outreach program’s director,

Ellen Edwards. More than 200 other gifts were included in stockings

the volunteers made for them, she said.

The Orange Coast College Early Childhood Lab School recommended

four families to the Assistance League, director Suzanne Jaglowski

said.

“What a difference it’s made in the lives of the families and the

children,” Jaglowski said. “Just having them as part of the school

and the tremendous opportunity it provides them -- the Christmas

baskets are just an added jewel. Some of them have refused the

baskets in the past because they feel it’s such a gift to be able to

attend the school.”

The Ibarras of Fountain Valley were one of the families the Early

Childhood Lab recommended because of their financial difficulties.

“It’s a blessing,” Martha Ibarra said. “The last three months of

the year are always the hardest, and we pray that we make it. It’s

such a relief that there’s people in the room like [the Assistance

League]. They do things for people without expecting anything.”

Assistance League spokeswoman Cindy DeBaun said each organization

selected one family to donate a basket to, although Orange Coast

College Early Childhood Lab School selected four families to sponsor.

The Assistance League’s Costa Mesa office houses dozens of tubs

containing wrapped toys and household necessities for the families,

DeBaun said. The volunteers spent several months shopping for the

items, using funds generated through grants and through the league’s

Treasure on Consignment thrift shop in Costa Mesa, she said.

“All of these families can’t afford to purchase Christmas presents

on their own,” DeBaun said. “One of them has six kids, and without

assistance of these baskets, they probably wouldn’t have Christmas.

This will be their Christmas.”