Boxing up care packages for 1/1 Marines

The city of Newport Beach and the American Legion Post 291 held a boxing party April 23 to assemble 145 care packages to be sent to the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, the Marines adopted by the city of Newport Beach.

“We only planned for 75,” said Steve Spriggs, one of the American Legion organizers of the event. “But the citizens and the post members donated so much we nearly doubled that.”

Spriggs added, “If citizens would like to send a letter or care package on their own to the 1/1, please mail them to Maj. Bill Wischmeyer, H&W; Company S-1, FPO, AP, 96426.

Also present at the event were several members of the Key Volunteer Network, Marines’ wives who provide support to other wives with husbands in Iraq.

Spokeswoman Anne Oxner announced that one of the biggest events for the families of the 1/1 is the Halfway Home event, which signifies that deployment is half over. This year’s event will be May 26 at the Staff NCO Club at Camp Pendleton.

The group is asking the community of Newport Beach to donate items that will be raffled off at the Halfway Home event. Examples include weekend getaways (to be used when the Marines return home); Visa or American Express gift cards, which can be used to pay for gas and child care; Target or Wal-Mart gift cards; spa or hairdresser gift cards; tickets to Disneyland; and appliances, large and small.

Those wishing to donate can deliver items to the Arches Liquor Store at 3334 W. Coast Highway. For information, write to nbarches@pacbel.net or call (949) 645-7077.

FACES OF RWANDA

Soroptimist member Dawn Marie Lemonds, who recently returned from a Soroptimist International Project in Rwanda, will present “Faces of Rwanda” from noon to 1 p.m. May 18 at the South Coast Regional Project, 2501 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa.

“So many of you have asked about my journey to Rwanda. I have decided to share some of it with you because you are people who are compassionate about humanity no matter where they live,” Lemonds said.

Lemonds will provide an update on the work done on behalf of Women Survivors of War through the joint efforts of Soroptimist International and Women for Women International.

Lemonds asks those attending to bring a brown bag lunch and an interested spirit.

If you are not able to attend, visit the website and read some of the stories: www.womenforwomen.org/projectindependence. For more information, call (714) 957-5046.

LUNCH WITH STARS

The All-Star Luncheon benefiting Serving People in Need will be held at 11:30 a.m. May 19 at the Five Crowns Restaurant in Corona del Mar. It will feature sports attorney Leigh Steinberg.

The cost of the lunch is $175. For more information or to purchase tickets, call Kim Frazier at (714) 751-1101, ext 19.

WORTH REPEATING

From the thought for the day, as provided by Greg Kelley of the Newport-Mesa-Irvine Interfaith Council:

“Things don’t go wrong and break your heart so you can become bitter and give up. They happen to break you down and build you up so you can be all that you were intended to be.”

? CHARLIE JONES

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS

TUESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The 45-member Rotary Club of Newport Beach Sunrise meets at the Five Crowns for a program by Orange County Supervisor Bill Campbell.

Noon: The 15-member Rotary Club of Costa Mesa meets at the Club House at South Coast Plaza.

WEDNESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The 10-member Newport Harbor Kiwanis Club meets at Denny’s Restaurant at the corner of Red Hill Avenue and Bristol Street.

Noon: The 27-member Exchange Club of the Orange Coast meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a business meeting.

6 p.m.: The 55-member Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a program by Patricia Wenskunas on Crime Survivors (www.newportbalboa.org).

THURSDAY

7 a.m.: The 20-member Costa Mesa Orange Coast Lions Club meets at Mimi’s Cafe.

Noon: The 50-member Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club meets at the Holiday Inn (www.kiwanis.org/club/costamesa); the 45-member Kiwanis Club of Newport Beach-Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a program by retired Superior Court Judge Leonard Goldstein, who will give his perspective on the current makeup of the U.S. Supreme Court; the 95-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at the Nautical Museum for a business meeting (www.nhexchangeclub.com); the 85-member Rotary Club of Newport Irvine meets at the Radisson Hotel (www.nirotary.org).