THE SPIRIT OF GIVING; HOLIDAY PARTIES SPREAD JOY FOR CHILDREN IN NEED.Byline: Yvette Cabrera Daily News Staff Writer With Christmas just around the corner, dozens of Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. charities and organizations got into the spirit over the weekend throwing holiday parties and festive gift giveaways throughout Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, . Dressed in bright red vests, Knights of Columbus Knights of Columbus, American Roman Catholic society for men, founded (1882) at New Haven, Conn. (where its headquarters are still located), by Father Michael J. McGivney. volunteers weaved through a long and winding line of 1,500 children and their families passing out toys, doughnuts and punch at the group's Van Nuys hall Sunday. ``I don't get in the Christmas spirit until I do this,'' said volunteer Jim DeGeeter. ``Seeing the kids when they see Santa, it's just fantastic. It makes me feel like a kid again.'' Jose Rodriguez's car was stolen just a few weeks ago, but the clowns, animal characters and gifts made Christmas merry for his 4-year-old son at the party, where Rodriguez volunteered to pass out toys. ``The party helps me a lot, because sometimes we don't have money to buy a lot of gifts for him,'' said Rodriguez, a North Hills resident. ``It's very popular. My favorite My Favorite is an independent synthpop band from Long Island, New York. They released two CDs: Love at Absolute Zero and Happiest Days of Our Lives. My Favorite broke up on September 14, 2005, when singer Andrea Vaughn left the band. part is the toys because I can see the kids - they go with a happy smile.'' Inside the Knights of Columbus hall, families were treated to a short play put on by the Church On the Way in Van Nuys, and then after shaking hands with Santa and Mrs. Claus Mrs. Claus is a folk hero, and is the wife of Santa Claus in many modern versions of the Santa Claus legend. In many current versions of the mythos, Mrs. Claus lives with her husband and assists with the production of Santa's toys, sometimes overseeing their production by , kids were given decorated bags full of Sunkist oranges, candy, coloring books and caramel popcorn. Event co-chairman Steve Ramirez said the Christmas party ballooned three years ago as the need in the community increased. ``As you can see, these families have three to four kids, and these days it's difficult to buy toys for one child, let alone four,'' Ramirez said. ``The need, the people - there are just so many, and you hate to turn anyone down.'' Ramirez praised the numerous supermarkets and law enforcement agencies A law enforcement agency (LEA) is a term used to describe any agency which enforces the law. This may be a local or state police, federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). and Los Angeles City Councilman Hal Bernson Hal Bernson served as Los Angeles City Councilman for the 12th district. He was chair of the Transportation Committee. Prior to being on the City Council, he served in the Navy. Preceded by Robert M. for coming through with donations and support for the event. ``This community, 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. , is a very giving community, and this time of year they just go all out,'' Ramirez said. ``The Christmas party is such a good thing and is one of the most successful we do as the Knights of Columbus.'' Close to 1,200 toys were donated by the Marine Corps, the Los Angeles Fire Department The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), also known as the Los Angeles City Fire Department to distinguish it from the Los Angeles County Fire Department. It is the agency that provides fire protection and emergency medical services for the city of Los Angeles. and the California Highway Patrol highway patrol n. A state law enforcement organization whose police officers patrol the public highways. , Ramirez said. The Knights of Columbus - the Van Nuys council of which was established in 1948 - is a Catholic fraternal society that supports churches and performs charity work throughout the community. The party is an event that brings hope to a neighborhood that sometimes struggles with poverty, crime and gangs, said member John Riordan John Riordan was an American mathematician and author of major early works in combinatorics, particularly Introduction to Combinatorial Analysis and Combinatorial Identities. He worked most of his life at Bell Labs. . Other holiday events throughout the city included the Easter Seals of Southern California's second annual holiday party, thrown Sunday afternoon for 40 local children with disabilities from low-income families. Santa Claus delivered more than 400 toys donated by Kmart of West Hills during the party, which was held at the Easter Seals' Van Nuys office. At Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, 100 members of the Ghost Riders Motorcycle Club delivered on Sunday more than $100,000 in toys donated by Funrise Toys of Woodland Hills. City Councilman Richard Alatorre hosted the 10th annual Feliz Navidad Project, which featured music, arts and a toy giveaway for hundreds of children in Eagle Rock and six Eastside housing projects. In North Hollywood, City Councilman Richard Alarcon delivered stockings and toys to needy children of the east San Fernando Valley at the Holy Mission Church. And the 10th annual Children's Holiday Gala also took place on Sunday, bringing cheer to disadvantaged children, foster children and kids who live in abuse shelters throughout Southern California. The event, which was attended by local celebrities, included games, entertainment and a reading of ``A Visit From St. Nicholas The original name for a poem by Clement Clarke Moore erson>, popularly called titled The Night Before Christmans ltname>. It is a popular poem with the theme of St. Nicholas erson> (Santa Claus) coming to bring gifts to children on Christmans eve. .'' CAPTION(S): 4 Photos Photo: (1--Color) Erica Quiros, 5, snuggles with Santa at the Knights of Columbus toy giveaway and Christmas party in Van Nuys on Sunday. (2--Color) Children carry toys they received as gifts Sunday from the Knights of Columbus at the group's annual Christmas party in Van Nuys. (3) Around 1,500 children and their parents line up to see Santa Claus and receive presents at the Knights of Columbus Christmas party. (4) Knights of Columbus volunteers deliver boxes of toys donated for distribution to needy children in the San Fernando Valley on Sunday. Tom Mendoza/Daily News |
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