CHRISTMAS EVENT BRINGS COMMUNITY SMILES.

Byline: Lisa M. Sodders Staff Writer

As a steady rain beat outside, hundreds of people enjoyed a hot Christmas dinner, gifts, music and fellowship Thursday at the 10th annual Conejo Community Holiday Dinner.

By 2 p.m., 250 people had been served, and organizers were expecting a total of 350 to drop by Thousand Oaks High School by 4 p.m., said Wendy Erlanger, chairwoman of the dinner.

``It's for anyone who has nowhere to be,'' Erlanger said. ``We have a mixture - seniors, some families, some homeless.

``This area has more needy people, more lonely people than we realize. This is the place to be so they won't have to be alone on Christmas.

``One woman told me if she hadn't come here, she would have had leftover spaghetti today,'' Erlanger said.

``I might have had a chicken sandwich at McDonald's if I hadn't come here,'' said Andrew MacLean, 52, of Woodland Hills, as he enjoyed his turkey dinner. He said his parents were deceased and he has no children, and described himself as ``familyless,'' although he has some brothers.

``I'm Jewish, and I celebrate Hanukkah,'' said Charlotte Seeman, 83, of Camarillo. ``But this is for all faiths - it doesn't make a difference. It's nice to be with others; it's not good to be by yourself.''

Ideal Meats of the San Fernando Valley donated the turkey, Costco provided the desserts, Tikka Grill in Agoura Hills donated the salad. Area schoolchildren created the festive place mats and table centerpieces.

Temple Adat Elohim in Thousand Oaks conducted a toy drive to make sure every child had a wrapped present to take home. The drive was so successful, some of the presents will go to victims of the recent wildfires.

Hugo, 39, and Lidia Garcia of Thousand Oaks brought their children, Hugo Jr., 17, and Yohann, 2, because ``we didn't have anything to do at home - just watch the TV - and nothing to eat,'' said Lidia, 37.

Hugo, who used to work in a hospital kitchen, has been on disability since a back injury in 2000, and Lidia works a retail job and a baby-sitting job.

``I think this is a great idea for people like us,'' she said. ``It gives us a chance to get together and enjoy a good meal.''

Volunteers said helping with the event made the day special for them, too. Stacie Rosenfeld, 16, of Agoura Hills also celebrates Hanukkah, not Christmas, but said she signed up to help because she loves talking to people.

``I met a lady who was a Holocaust survivor, which is not something you see every day,'' she said.

Cantor Gregg Luchs sang Christmas carols - some of which he had only learned recently - and Hanukkah songs, while Mitch Schwartz amused the crowd with magic tricks, juggling and balancing tricks.

``This is for a great cause,'' Luchs said. ``We want to make it the best Christmas we possibly can.''

Lisa M. Sodders, [phone]

lisa.sodders(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Katherine Slocum, 88, of Thousand Oaks lets out a smile while enjoying a warm Christmas meal at the annual dinner.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer