GRIEVING FAMILY SEEKS HELP : BOY'S HOLIDAY WISH IS BURIAL OF SLAIN FATHER.Byline: Fred Shuster Daily News Staff Writer North Hollywood sixth-grader Shawn Stephens doesn't want compact discs, computer games or even a model railroad railroad or railway, form of transportation most commonly consisting of steel rails, called tracks, on which freight cars, passenger cars, and other rolling stock are drawn by one locomotive or more. this Christmas. Instead, he wants just enough money to bury Bury (bĕ`rē), city (1991 pop. 60,785) and metropolitan district, NE England, located in the Manchester metropolitan area on the Irwell River and linked by canal with Bolton and Manchester. his father. Shawn's 32-year-old dad was found stabbed to death in a Hollywood street Oct. 25. The man wasn't always there for Shawn, but he was coming around in the weeks before he was killed, said Patrice Stephens-Holmes, Shawn's guardian and the mother of the boy's troubled late father. Shawn, who will turn 12 on Monday, put his feelings down in a journal written during the past few weeks: ``Every time I talk about my dad, I can't help remembering the good times, plus the times I was looking forward to. But it looks like we won't be able to be together.'' Stephens-Holmes says she needs $613 to bury her son, a onetime award-winner in the high jump who was severely injured in·jure tr.v. in·jured, in·jur·ing, in·jures 1. To cause physical harm to; hurt. 2. To cause damage to; impair. 3. in a 1982 automobile crash. Shawn's biological mother is no longer part of his life. ``After the accident, Shawn's dad became violent,'' the boy's grandmother said from the North Hollywood apartment she shares with Shawn. ``But in the last 10 months, he had changed and wrote his son a letter and spoke with him on the phone right before he died.'' That letter had a marked effect on Shawn, a bespectacled sixth-grader at Millikan Middle School in Sherman Oaks, who had begun to fall down in his studies. Shawn's father expressed love for his son. ``When you were born, I had the feeling in my heart that I would not outlive out·live tr.v. out·lived, out·liv·ing, out·lives 1. To live longer than: She outlived her son. 2. you,'' the man wrote. ``Through you I live. I know that I never told you just how much you really mean to me. You are my pride and joy.'' According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Stephens-Holmes, Shawn got down to work in school immediately after receiving the letter and talking to Noun 1. talking to - a lengthy rebuke; "a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline"; "the teacher gave him a talking to" lecture, speech rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval - an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to his father three days before he was killed. Shawn wrote in his journal about efforts to have his dad interred: ``My grandma is still trying to get my dad buried bur·y tr.v. bur·ied, bur·y·ing, bur·ies 1. To place in the ground: bury a bone. 2. a. To place (a corpse) in a grave, a tomb, or the sea; inter. b. . She hasn't had to plead plead v. 1) in civil lawsuits and petitions, the filing of any document (pleading) including complaints, petitions, declarations, motions, and memoranda of points and authorities. for anything in her life.'' Through their Adopt-A-Child-Abuse-Caseworker program, officials from the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. Interfaith in·ter·faith adj. Of, relating to, or involving persons of different religious faiths: an interfaith marriage; an interfaith forum. Council have been working with the family to help it overcome the emotional and financial problems caused by the death of Shawn's father. ``We find a need that exists and try to fill that need,'' said Barry Smedberg, executive director of the Chatsworth-based charity. The council is among 15 agencies being profiled this year in the Daily News' seventh annual Season of Sharing project. Readers can use the attached clip-out coupon to donate money or goods to the agency, or sign up as a volunteer. The Daily News receives none of the money. Since 1964, the council has been working as an advocate for San Fernando Valley residents who find themselves in need of help. Comprised of 270 congregations from throughout the Valley, the Interfaith Council this year has helped nearly 300,000 people. ``We're trying to make religion and religious organizations relevant to people in the Valley,'' Smedberg said. ``People of faith are reaching out and trying to improve things in the Valley. What we're trying to do is bridge the gaps of the different faiths so we can work together.'' The council's programs span generational gaps, as well. The council operates multipurpose mul·ti·pur·pose adj. Designed or used for several purposes: a multipurpose room; multipurpose software. multipurpose Adjective senior centers, senior nutrition sites, day-care programs for Alzheimer's sufferers, 21 food pantries and the Adopt-A-Child-Abuse-Caseworker Program, which links congregations with caseworkers to assist troubled families. Along with a wide array of programs comes the demand for varied donations, Smedberg said. The council is always looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. volunteers, along with food, clothing, toys and household goods to help those less fortunate. For Shawn, the desire for a Super Nintendo system for his birthday or Christmas comes after his wish to have his dad taken care of. A funeral took place several weeks ago after Stephens-Holmes took a loan out on her car and used up her savings. But her son's burial is beyond her financial means at this point. ``I don't really need a Nintendo or anything else,'' Shawn said. ``All I really need is for my dad to get buried.'' List of Agencies Here is a list of the agencies that have been profiled during the Daily News' seventh annual Season of Sharing project to benefit local charities. Please make your check or money order payable to the charity and mail to the address listed below. The Daily News receives none of the money. El Centro El Centro (ĕl sĕn`trō), city (1990 pop. 31,384), seat of Imperial co., SE Calif., near the Mexican border; inc. 1908. It is a processing and shipping center for a heavily irrigated agricultural region (vegetables, grain, cotton, de Amistad Attn: Season of Sharing 7024 Deering Ave. Canoga Park, CA 91306 (818) 347-8565 Meet Each Need With Dignity Attn: Season of Sharing 13460 Van Nuys Blvd. Pacoima, CA 91331 (818) 896-0246 Desert Haven Enterprises Attn: Season of Sharing 43437 Copeland Circle Lancaster, CA 93535 (805) 948-8402 Catholic Charities of Ventura County Attn: Season of Sharing P.O. Box 474 Moorpark, CA 93021 (805) 529-0720 The Guadalupe Center Attn: Season of Sharing 21600 Hart St. Canoga Park, CA 91303 (818) 340-2050 New Directions for Youth Attn: Season of Sharing 7400 Van Nuys Blvd., No. 203 Van Nuys, CA 91405 (818) 375-1000 San Fernando Valley Partnership Attn: Season of Sharing 1300 Celis St. San Fernando San Fernando, city, Argentina San Fernando (săn fərnăn`dō), city (1991 pop. 144,761), Buenos Aires prov., E Argentina. It is a district administrative center in the Greater Buenos Aires area. , CA 91340 (818) 998-2881 Visually Handicapped Adults of the Valley Attn: Season of Sharing P.O. Box 867 Van Nuys, CA 91408 (818) 988-1992 Foundation for Children's Dental Health Attn: Season of Sharing 23616 Via Beguine be·guine n. 1. A ballroom dance similar to the rumba, based on a dance of Martinique and St. Lucia. 2. The music for this dance. Valencia, CA 91355 (805) 253-2484 Care and Share Attn: Season of Sharing 1925 Royal Ave. Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. , CA 93065 (805) 522-5676 Lancaster Community Homeless Shelter Homeless shelters are temporary residences for homeless people. Usually located in urban neighborhoods, they are similar to emergency shelters. The primary difference is that homeless shelters are usually open to anyone, without regard to the reason for need. Attn: Season of Sharing 44611 Yucca Ave. Lancaster, CA 93534 (805) 945-7524 Tierra Del Sol Sol, in Roman religion Sol (sŏl), in Roman religion, sun god. An ancient god of Mesopotamian origin, he was introduced (c.220) into Roman religion as Sol Invictus by emperor Heliogabalus. FoundatiHoon Attn: Season of Sharing 9919 Sunland Blvd. Sunland, CA 91040 (818) 352-1419 Association to Aid Victims of Domestic Violence Attn: Season of Sharing P.O. Box 220037 Newhall, CA 91322 (805) 259-4787 Independent Living Center Attn: Season of Sharing 13454 Haynes St. Van Nuys, CA 01401 (818) 785-6934 San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council Attn: Season of Sharing 10824 Topanga Canyon Blvd. Chatsworth, CA 91311 (818) 718-6460 CAPTION(S): Photo, 2 Boxes Photo: Shawn Stephens, 11, of North Hollywood is hoping for just enough money to bury his father. Phil McCarten/Daily News Box: (1) HOW TO GIVE (2) List of Agencies (see text) |
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