DRIVE TAKES NEEDY BABES IN ARMS : GROUP SEEKS RANGE OF ITEMS: WIPES, PACIFIERS.

Byline: Sherry Joe Crosby Daily News Staff Writer

Cindi Treloar doesn't have a baby and doesn't know many poor families in Santa Clarita Valley but she will spend Saturday collecting clothes, pacifiers and diapers for needy infants.

The Saugus resident, a member of Santa Clarita Presbyterian Church, is collecting new baby items for poor families at Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center Women's Hospital.

``I feel that in some ways my family is protected within this valley from the life some people lead,'' said Treloar who has three children ages 15 to 21. ``By going out into our sister city, Los Angeles, (church members) can see that not everyone has what we have.''

From 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, the church will collect baby items at five Santa Clarita locations. Volunteers are looking for new items ranging from disposable diapers, diaper wipes and sleepers to T-shirts, nightgowns and baby bottles.

Without the donations, many babies would go home in little more than paper gowns with a two-day supply of diapers and formula, Treloar said.

``These babies would go home with nothing because their families have really nothing to give to them,'' she said.

The church will give the donations to Project Angel Interfaith Network, a South Pasadena-based nonprofit group, which works with chaplains and social workers to identify needy families at USC Medical Center.

``If the family doesn't have clothing or other needed items then we put together what they need,'' said Project Angel coordinator Ann Mills. ``When there's a new addition to the family it can be quite an expense.''

The need for donations is especially strong during the spring and summer months when many people are on vacation, she said.

``Summer is a slow time for us but the babies keep coming,'' Mills said.

Each week, Project Angel assists about six families with newborns, delivering donations to their homes where volunteers make on-site inspections. Sometimes conditions are so primitive that there's not enough room for a crib.

``The biggest advantage is the family knows we care,'' Mills said. ``We try to do what we can and show there are people who care.''

The group also tries to ease the emotional burden newborns sometimes bring to families.

``Sometimes it's very overwhelming for a young mother (to take care of an infant),'' Mills said. ``We try to make it a joyful event rather than a trauma.''

The collection for new baby items will start at 9 a.m. Saturday at five Santa Clarita Valley locations: Santa Clarita Presbyterian Church, 21515 Soledad Canyon Road in the Foster Freeze center; Lucky's Canyon Center, 18571 Soledad Canyon Road; Sav-on Drugs, 19424 Soledad Canyon Road; Lucky Food Center, 27631 Bouquet Canyon Road; and Lucky Food Center, 23449 W. Lyons Ave.

For information, call Santa Clarita Presbyterian Church at [phone].

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Photo: (color) Cindi Treloar, left, Dan Signett and the Rev . Carolyn Fritch have collected items for needy infants.

Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News