READERS BRING JOY TO PEOPLE IN NEED.

Byline: Steve Getzug Daily News Staff Writer

One hundred dollar bills may not seem like much to some, but to Ruben Castro, the donation is a precious steppingstone in an effort to give people in need another day of hope.

``It will amount to several cases of baby food or baby formula, and that's very important,'' says Castro, with Catholic Charities in Moorpark. ``Right now things are tight for us financially - and it really helps.

``It helps to keep us afloat.''

Castro's organization is one of 15 in the San Fernando and neighboring valleys benefiting from the kindness of Daily News readers whose response to this year's Season of Sharing project will extend well beyond the Christmas season.

Financial donations for agencies featured in stories after Thanksgiving totaled more than $4,100, but the giving included well more than money: food, clothing, a fax machine, a place to live - and even a burial for a boy's father.

Agencies also got offers from people to volunteer their service.

``That, more than money, is invaluable,'' said Norma Vescovo, director of the Independent Living Center in Van Nuys, which helps teach the developmentally disabled and infirmed life skills so they can live independently.

Since 1990, the Season of Sharing project sponsored by the Daily News has generated nearly $197,000 for area charities, with thousands of readers participating.

``It's just wonderful when the readers come forward this time of year,'' said Brenda Trunzo, program coordinator for the Adopt-A-Child-Abuse-Caseworker Program, which links Valley churches and temples with caseworkers to assist troubled families.

``But, of course,'' she said, ``our program runs throughout the year and people can give any time. The spirit of giving can last all year long, not just at Christmas.''

For 12-year-old Shawn Stephens and his grandmother-guardian, Daily News readers came through in a big way, resulting in something they couldn't have predicted a month ago.

It was Oct. 25 that Shawn's dad was found stabbed to death on a Hollywood street. The troubled man was just beginning to find his way back into Shawn's life and had spoken to his son the night before he died.

Shawn and his grandmother, Patrice Stephens-Holmes, who is the mother of the boy's father, couldn't afford a proper burial or memorial service. That's when Ed Challinor, manager of Pierce Brothers Valhalla Mortuary and Memorial Park in North Hollywood, stepped in.

``I saw the (Dec. 15) story and got hold of the family,'' Challinor explained. ``We do a lot of work with the churches this time of year and figured these people deserved help, too.''

The mortuary provided a grave and memorial service for Shawn's father Dec. 18.

``The son has got closure now,'' Challinor said. ``They were very nice people. ``At the service, Shawn got up and talked about his father and the entire family participated.''

In addition, a Woodland Hills woman who read the story bought the boy a Super Nintendo system and donated cash to Stephens-Holmes, who lives with sixth-grader Shawn in an apartment in North Hollywood.

And 15 members of the Christian Youth Club at Birmingham High School in Van Nuys took Shawn a cake and a set of in-line roller skates for his 12th birthday Dec. 16.

``Yesterday, my grandbaby smiled,'' the boy's guardian said after the delivery. ``And we haven't been able to get him to do that since Oct. 25. It's just that fantastic.''

In Simi Valley, the Care and Share food pantry in Simi Valley received $575, but the biggest benefit may have been the number of people who called to volunteer their time to help, said director Willa Dobbs.

``We had a lot more volunteers this year,'' said Dobbs, whose agency helped more than 600 families this year - a record. ``They came and helped. We have about 15 people here every day picking up different things that we need.''

Thanks to last-minute donations, Dobbs said, no one was turned away.

``We said a prayer, and people just started coming in with donations,'' Dobbs said.

In Pacoima, Suleyma Landaverde and Eduardo Boch found their Santa this Christmas: His name is Francisco Flores.

Flores donated a furnished guest house in Pacoima after learning that the couple, with a brand new baby, could not afford the $300-a-month rent they owed for a room in a house they shared with five other families.

``In my heart, I wanted to reach out and help them,'' said Flores, 39, a teacher at Sepulveda Middle School in North Hills. ``I do it for the children. They are angels.''

Readers also donated $795, a basinet and several cribs, tools, clothing and housewares to Meeting Each Need With Dignity (MEND), a Pacoima-based agency that provides low-income families in the northeast San Fernando Valley with emergency food, clothing, furniture, and medical and dental care.

``There's been quite an outpouring of support,'' said the nonprofit agency's executive director, Marianne Haver Hill. ``We are very grateful.''

New Directions for Youth Inc., a nonprofit organization serving the San Fernando Valley for 21 years, received $800 in donations, which included $500 from an anonymous donor.

``We could not be happier,'' said Janine Bowles, office manager of the program designed to reduce juvenile delinquency, crime, gang affiliation, unemployment, family dysfunction and child abuse. ``It's been like Christmas around here.''

The Santa Clarita-based Foundation for Children's Health, which provides free dental care and oral hygiene education to low-income families and their children, received a fax machine and about $100 in cash donations.

``A fax machine is great,'' said Mary Caravalho, president and founder of the Foundation. ``We have no equipment except for a computer. This helps us do business that much easier.''

Readers also sent several donations to help residents of the battered women's shelter in Santa Clarita, said Clara Stroup, executive director of the Association to Aid Victims of Domestic Violence.

``We've had offers of volunteers, furniture, a TV, clothing, and money donations,'' Stroup said.

Most of the respondents enclosed notes or Christmas cards with their donations. ``One of them said that they had left an abusive relationship after 16 years, and was not in need of a shelter - but (rather) `people around me who cared. I have real compassion for those like me,' '' Stroup said.

The Tierra del Sol Foundation in Sunland received three cash donations totaling $170. The foundation runs a day job-training program that helps people with developmental disabilities become integrated into the mainstream community.

At El Centro de Amistad in Canoga Park, readers provided food, toys and money that helped the agency provide between 500 and 600 food and gift baskets for the poor this Christmas, said Maria Gutierrez.

``I'm very thankful because we did get a few more dollars to buy a few beans, potatoes . . .,'' she said.

About 15 people donated $365 to Visually Handicapped Adults of the Valley in Van Nuys.

The center offers classes in Spanish, typing, arts and crafts, music appreciation, exercise and current events to blind and visually-impaired adults, as well as group and individual therapy and transportation on outings and to doctor appointments.

``We are just grateful to get any money in here,'' said Joe Crise, executive director of Visually Handicapped Adults of the Valley. ``Money is so short for people. For them to open their pocketbooks at this time a year to help our school is so gratifying.''

``It shows that people care.''

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Photo

Photo: Javier Escobed carries his son, Favian, 3, on a box of donated goods with his wife, Patricia, after getting toys and food.

Tina Gerson/Daily News