WISH UPON A STAR; MOORPARK REMEMBERS NEEDY TEENS AT HOLIDAYS.

Byline: Gloria Gonzales Daily News Staff Writer

When it comes to holiday giving, people remember children, the elderly and the homeless, but it seemed that needy teens were often forgotten during the season of charitable giving.

``We looked at existing programs in Moorpark, and none targeted teen's holiday needs. We wanted to help families in need without distracting from other programs,'' said Tricia Montgomery, a Moorpark resident who three years ago helped start the Catch a Star program.

The program ensures that teens who might not otherwise get presents this holiday season can request and receive a gift.

``Middle school and high school counselors help select teens for the program; this way we take care of the whole community and make the holidays a little brighter for these teens,'' Montgomery said.

Montgomery and several other Catch a Star volunteers work closely with counselors to select students ages 13 to 18 who might not receive gifts during the holidays. Students fill out a paper star, listing gifts they would like, and include information about their sizes and color preferences.

The stars are tacked to a large star hanging in the Lucky supermarket on Tierra Rejada Road. Shoppers can choose a star, buy a gift and drop it off at two locations in Moorpark. There's no need to wrap the gift - volunteers wrap and deliver all the presents.

``The neat thing is you can buy a teen something that is their choice. It's something - a sweat shirt, a pair of shoes - that they want and probably need,'' said Susie Mays, a counselor at Moorpark High School who helps select recipients. ``And we choose students carefully. The gifts go to enrolled students whose parents will have difficulty providing for the holidays this year.''

Some students' families may have suffered an illness, job loss or other crisis, while others may come from single-parent homes or from families that have recently immigrated to this country, Mays said.

Understanding how sensitive teen-agers can be, the program organizers also maintain strict confidentiality about gift recipients.

``The stars only include the students' first name and their age,'' Montgomery said. ``It's hard enough going through puberty as it is without your classmates knowing about family troubles.''

Mays, who helps distribute the gifts, said the gratitude of the teens is unmistakable.

``Some of these students are just unbelieving when they get their gift. Some of them fill out the forms and don't really think they will get anything,'' Mays said. ``And they all have different reactions. Some can't wait to rip off the wrapping, and others want to wait and open it later when they're alone. I've even seen one student take his gift and hide it, as if he waited to make sure nothing happened to it.''

To give a gift to a needy Moorpark teen, stop by the Lucky market in Mountain Meadows Plaza at 4241 Tierra Rejada Road and pick up a gift request at the Catch a Star display. Unwrapped gifts can be dropped off at the Red River Steak House at 233 E. High St., or at Coldwell Banker at 484 E. Los Angeles Ave.

The deadline for dropping off gifts is Nov. 30. Donations are also accepted, and volunteers can assist with wrapping on Dec. 1 and 2 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. For more information about making a donation or volunteering, call Tricia Montgomery at 529-6992.

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Photo: (color in SIMI edition only) Teens' wish-list stars hang from a large star in a Lucky supermarket on Tierra Rejada Road.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News