COMMUNITY & CLUBS:

A few weeks ago I reported that Lions International and the Costa Mesa Newport Harbor Lions Club delivered accumulated funds and Target gift cards totaling $10,000 to the Orange County Rescue Mission. Lions Club President Mike Scheafer received the following thank you.

“My family and I benefited from $300 in Target gift cards granted to us by the O.C. Rescue Mission. Our home and yard were damaged in the fires (we live in the Hollydale Mobile Home park in Brea’s Carbon Canyon), and on an unrelated note have experienced some additional hardship making ends meet as my husband is pending a layoff with the railroad where he works as an engineer/conductor. I am lucky to still have my job as a recruiter, but work in a largely commission-driven position and haven’t been able to even come close to closing the gaps in this current economic market.

“The gift cards provided some much-needed relief to my family in a time when we felt that we had little cause for hope. We were able to purchase a Christmas tree, several small gifts including an inexpensive bike/helmet for my 2 1/2 -year-old, and to stock up on needed household items including both grocery and cleaning supplies.

“I just wanted to thank you, and the Lions Club, for your generosity. We arguably would have found a way to ‘get by’ without your gift, but it would have been a much bleaker Christmas holiday for our little girl and for us. I can’t describe to you how blessed and how much more hopeful we felt as a result of your kindness.

“Thank-you! Thank-you! Thank-you! With sincere gratitude, Katherine, Robert and Kyra.”

SNOWBALL EXPRESS REPORT

Rotarian John Brainerd sent the following report on last week’s Snowball Express.

“In 2006, several Rotary Clubs in District 5320 came together to create Snowball Express. It was an opportunity to show our appreciation and provide the children who had lost a parent in service to our country subsequent to 9/11 with a trip to Disneyland and a fun few days away from home. These children did not necessarily know that there were others in similar circumstances. As they came together and greeted each other, they gained an understanding and camaraderie that is very special.

“The first opportunity they have to meet is on the planes and at the airports as they arrive. Every year since 2006, Newport-Irvine, Irvine Spectrum and Balboa Rotaries have taken the lead in welcoming the children to Southern California. The effort was led by Newport Irvine Rotarians Trisha Marshall and John Brainerd in identifying the volunteers and organizing them in the various greeting tasks. Basically, the volunteers acted as cheerleaders as the children and parent came down the escalators from the landing level and then assisted with identifying their bags and getting them out to the curb. At the curb, the Patriotic Guard (a motorcycle club of veterans) greeted them and escorted them onto the buses and saw that their luggage was loaded as well. In addition to the Rotarians and patriot guard, the greeters included members of Mariners Church, the Roosters Organization, the Goldstar Wives and other service-related organization and cheerleaders from Trabuco High School. The enthusiasm and gratitude was very evident in the smiles of the parents and the laughter of the children.

“The 2008 program is the largest yet, with over 1,472 family members and 972 children attending. The program began with a special welcome dinner and entertainment by Terry Fator (winner of ‘America’s Got Talent’). On Wednesday, they were off to Universal Studios for a day of activities there, followed on Thursday by a day at the Happiest Place on Earth, Disneyland. And finally, Friday, the 19th, Oakley Corporation entertains the families at the Anaheim Convention Center with ‘A Day in the Life of California,’ which started with ‘The Walk of Gratitude’ from their hotels up to the Convention Center where up to 1,000 people cheered them on with cheers and signs reading, ‘Your Daddy is our hero.’ A farewell dinner on the evening of the 19th with entertainment which included a surprise guest appearance by actor Gary Sinise.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HANUKKAH

From the de Boom family, we wish all a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! Blessings.

WORTH REPEATING

Thought for the Day as provided by Greg Kelley of the Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council… “Don’t be fooled by the calendar. There are only as many days in the year as you make use of. One person gets only a week’s value out of a year, while another gets a full year’s value out of a week.”

COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published Wednesdays. Send your service club’s meeting information by fax to (714) 921-8655 or by e-mail to jdeboom@aol.com.