BRIEFLY IN THE NEWS

OCC students make blankets for troops

Fashion students at Orange Coast College have banded together to provide supplies for American servicemen and women stationed in Iraq.

Chris Amaral, who teaches fashion design classes, said she was inspired to start the project when one of her students told her she had a son in Iraq. Students enrolled in two sections of the class congregated in the campus’ clothing lab to make blankets, pillowcases and homemade greeting cards.

The students pooled their money for the project and purchased 35 fitted sheets. Amaral said that every holiday season, her classes embark on a charity venture.

“We’ve made blankets and pillowcases for the Orangewood Children’s Home, bags for homeless shelters, and blankets and pillowcases for the Huntington Beach Community Center,” she said in a news release. “This fall’s project has stirred the emotions of our students and boosted our holiday spirits.”

Landmine crusader to star at fundraiser

Ken Rutherford, the co-founder of the Landmine Survivors Network, will be the keynote speaker at a fundraiser for Corona del Mar High School’s Club Anthro on Tuesday evening.

In 1993, Rutherford was conducting humanitarian work in Somalia when his jeep ran over a landmine. Rutherford, who lost both his legs in the accident, later won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to eliminate mines.

On Tuesday, he will speak at a fundraiser for Club Anthro, a student organization dedicated to humanitarian work. The event, to be held at the Mozambique Restaurant and Coastal Lounge in Laguna Beach, will feature food, music and a drawing for a cruise to East Africa.

The Mozambique Restaurant is at 1740 S. Coast Highway. Tickets may be purchased the night of the event beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Bungalow restaurant helps give mobility

The Bungalow restaurant in Corona del Mar recently raised more than $60,000 for the Free Wheel Chair Mission at a special charity dinner.

This is the 10th year the restaurant has hosted the fundraiser, and all the money raised will help the nonprofit organization build wheelchairs for people who would not otherwise be able to afford them.

More than 75 people gathered at the restaurant Nov. 17 for a three-course dinner. Philanthropists munched on appetizers and sipped fine wine in the name of the mission.

Free Wheel Chair Mission is based in Irvine and works to provide mobility to people in developing countries who are physically disabled. The wheelchairs are made from plastic patio furniture, fit with a metal frame and bicycle wheels. The inexpensive construction allows the organization to distribute as many wheelchairs as possible. For more information, go to www.freewheelchair mission.org.

Girls Inc. invites visitors to open house

Mark the calendars for the Girls Inc. of Orange County’s open house at its Anaheim Avenue location from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 7.

The open house was set up to give parents, local business leaders and other residents the chance to learn more about its programs and meet the board of trustees.

Girls Inc. offers programs for girls from 4½ to 18 years old to help inspire them to become confident and productive women. The idea is to focus on setting goals, doing well in school and making smart decisions, which will in turn help create a strong workforce for the future. For more information, go to www.girlsinc-oc.org or call (949) 646-7181. Girls Inc. is at 1815 Anaheim Ave. in Costa Mesa.