HOLIDAY PARTY FOR NEEDY PROVIDES GIFTS, SERVICES.

Byline: BRENT HOPKINS Staff Writer

Ominous clouds and a chill in the air could not drive the holiday spirit from Teresa Meza.

The Pacoima mother wasn't sure how she'd cope with Christmas for her three kids. Saturday morning, she strapped her baby, Karina, into her stroller, told Jesus, 4, to put on his gloves, bundled up 6-year-old Brenda and headed to El Proyecto del Barrio's annual holiday party.

Ignoring the cool breeze and the drizzle, Meza kept an eye on her kids as they played and accepted a large bag filled with presents. Suddenly, the holidays didn't seem so challenging.

``It's hard at Christmas when you don't have money,'' she said in Spanish. ``Without this, we'd just be at home with nothing.''

For the past 15 years, the Arleta-based social service group has hosted families like Meza's, providing gifts, food and health screenings for those unable to provide for themselves.

This year, it expanded to a second site in Winnetka, with a crew of 200 staff members and more than 30 volunteers serving 2,000 families.

Mothers carried home bags filled with board games and dolls while fathers lifted bags of chicken, fruit and vegetables donated by corporations and community groups. Children ran around, seemingly oblivious to the mist that steadily progressed into rain.

In this prosperous city, not far from million-dollar homes and luxury automobiles, they graciously accepted help just so they could have the basics for Christmas.

``This is just scratching the surface,'' said Corinne Sanchez, the group's president and chief executive officer. ``These people are 200 percent below the poverty level, children and mothers. We want them to feel like they're special today.''

At the Arleta site, Santa Claus wore tennis shoes, but the kids didn't seem to mind and still lined up to have their pictures taken on his lap. A band played bluesy Christmas songs as grateful parents lined up to gather their donations.

``It's a great thing,'' Jose Sandoval, a San Fernando construction worker who came with his family and two young nephews, said in Spanish. ``This help doesn't come from the government; it's from the community. The spirit of collaboration to help people, that's what we need.''

Across the Valley at the Winnetka site, though the rain came down in earnest, families still huddled together for their bags. Some shared umbrellas; others took shelter under trees and awnings.

Martin Cueva's kids got their presents early, and they happily clutched the new action figures as their father tried to avoid the rain beneath a tree.

The Canoga Park waiter also has a baby daughter at home and smiled in spite of the chill.

``This is Christmas for us,'' he said, switching between English and Spanish and back again. ``There's presents for the babies.''

brent.hopkins(at)dailynews.com

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 2) Santa Claus, far left, portrayed by Allan Clair of Van Nuys, poses for a photo with one of his helpers, Jose Penado, 11, of Reseda, at the holiday party presented by El Proyecto del Barrio at Calvary Lutheran Church in Arleta on Saturday. At left, Angelina Davis, 7, of Van Nuys, top, and T.J. Lockhart of Van Nuys are bundled up against the cold and rainy weather at the holiday party.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer