WORKING -- CHRIS DODD

Story by Torus Tammer

HE IS

Spending his time wrapping Christmas gifts

THE CAUSE

This 14-year-old Fountain Valley resident attends Huntington Beach

High School and is a student at the school’s Academy for the Performing

Arts. That’s why he is spending his time wrapping Christmas presents at

the Surf City Barnes & Noble Booksellers on Edinger Avenue.

Chris, who takes stage construction (technical theater) and acting,

said this work is a fund-raiser for the theater arts department of the

program.

“Last Christmas, I helped in this program wrapping gifts; it was a

learning experience,” Chris said. “I had a lot of help last year and by

the end of the first day, I got the hang of it. I’m pretty good at

wrapping gifts now.”

‘TIS THE SEASON

The program, began during the second week of December and will finish

on this weekend, is voluntary. As many as 20 students are working at a

variety of Barnes & Noble stores throughout Orange County. The money,

which is made strictly through customers’ tips, goes toward sustaining

the Performing Arts program.

Generally, Chris said, each session lasts about three hours. On

weekdays, students arrive just after lunch and work until 4 p.m. Weekends

are the busiest times, he said. They begin at 9:30 a.m. and work

staggered times throughout the day.

Chris said although the duration of the work is short, it doesn’t

necessarily mean that it’s not busy. But he does not feel the pressure,

adding his affinity for Christmas along with his natural inclination to

perform and be inquisitive, helps the time fly.

“I like people, and I like the festive season,” Chris said. “Some

people have even called me a ham, but I like start conversations. It’s

pretty easy for me to do.”

THE FUTURE

In March, Chris will turn 15. But this young man is not sitting on his

duff waiting for life to come to him. He said he worked as a greeter, as

well as a wrapper, last year. Chris plans to be in theater

production-ligthing design.

He said he will stick with his goals and see the Christmas season

through by wrapping books and other gifts for Barnes & Noble shoppers in

Huntington Beach. But he, like many of the other volunteers, has a vision

and is committed to the bigger picture.

“All the work we do, we do for tips which are donations that go to the

academy; every contribution helps to get closer to the goal,” he said.

“For the past two years, we have raised around $1,000, and we plan to do

the same this year.”