Calls overseas in the cards for troops’ kids

Jeff Benson

Camp Pendleton’s children often can’t afford to share holiday stories

with their parents overseas, so the Newport-Mesa community has

answered the call of local school officials to help out.

The community is donating more than $9,000 toward AT&T; phone cards

so students based at Camp Pendleton can talk with family members

overseas during the holidays.

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District and Harbor Council PTA’s

goal is to raise $9,945, which would buy 100-minute phone cards for

each of the 765 students at San Onofre School in San Clemente.

Even if they don’t hit that goal, donations from the San Clemente

community will more than make up the difference, San Onofre

Elementary School Principal Barbara Barnes said. San Clemente

residents mailed in checks and donated grants to push the amount

above the $12,000 mark.

Barnes anticipates that every child at the school will be able to

talk with their families over the holidays -- perhaps for as long as

three hours.

About 60% of the students have a parent deployed overseas, Barnes

said.

“The important thing ... is that the gift is absolutely wonderful

and will be used, but more important is the service of what these

families are doing overseas to support the community,” Barnes said.

“And the community is supporting them during this stressful holiday

time.”

Newport-Mesa trustees and parents will visit the school today to

present them with their check and to donate as many as 80 toys that

district staff members have given since Thanksgiving, board member

Dana Black said.

“Gifts are nice, and so are toys and food, but a touch of home is

what we need most during the holiday season,” district spokeswoman

Jane Garland said. “And for kids to talk to their families during the

holidays is the best gift we can give them.”

Each of the students has family in the 5th Marines at Camp

Pendleton, Barnes said. Some of their parents have already been

deployed overseas, and some are leaving shortly after the holidays,

she said.

The district will continue to accept donations for the San Onofre

students through Christmas, Garland said.

“Even when we reach our goal, the goal was just a minimum,” she

said. “We’re looking to do anything above and beyond that.”

* JEFF BENSON covers education and may be reached at (714)

966-4617 or by e-mail at [email protected].