Flourishing in a volunteer Army

Andrew Edwards

Corona del Mar’s Jan Landstrom volunteers at a place that looks like

it could be Santa’s local distribution center.

Long rows of wrapped gifts line the floor at the Salvation Army’s

Orange County warehouse.

Even more playthings that await wrapping are stored nearby in

large, cardboard bins.

“This is real fun, because you feel like you’re playing Santa

Claus,” Landstrom, 72, said as she demonstrated how volunteers

prepare packages of toys for needy families in the county.

With a big, pink plastic bag in hand, Landstrom peered into a bin

filled with dolls, board games and other toys. Landstrom explained

how she and other volunteers receive lists from various families that

outline how many children in a household need a toy for Christmas.

“We get a nice toy for each one of them, and as you can see, we

have a lot of beautiful toys,” she said.

As Landstrom walked among the rows of toys, volunteers on the

other side of the Salvation Army’s Garden Grove warehouse packed

foodstuffs into boxes.

The charity planned to distribute the food and toys today and

Thursday, spokesman Barry Frost said.

This year, the Salvation Army of Orange County will give donated

gifts and food to about 2,300 families, Frost said.

Landstrom has focused on preparations for Christmas since October

and spent one of her shifts as a bell-ringer with a kettle for

donations at South Coast Plaza. She is also a member of the Salvation

Army of Orange County’s advisory board and women’s auxiliary board.

Landstrom has helped out with initiatives including children’s Easter

baskets and drug rehabili- tation programs for adults.

“She’s wonderful, very vibrant, been around the Army a long time

but a very vibrant, dedicated volunteer,” said Warren Johnson, the

Salvation Army’s assistant to its Orange County coordinator.

Johnson said Landstrom is similar to other advisory board members,

who he described as “very enthusiastic, hands-on kind of folks.”

Landstrom started out with the Salvation Army about 12 years ago,

she said. Her family’s involvement with the charity goes back

further.

As a child in Nebraska, she watched her father, who served with

the organization for 55 years, volunteer his time.

“I grew up as a little girl watching my father light the tree,

ring the bell, pack and sort, distribute,” Landstrom said.

“It’s just kind of inherited my love of the Army.”