Everybody wants to help

Planning a donation drive in the wake of a national disaster can be a

major logistical headache. It can be a cinch, however, if everything

falls right into your lap. For Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, founder and

executive director of the Festival of Children Foundation, the latter

occurred.

Actress Beth Broderick, known for her role as Aunt Zelda in

television’s “Sabrina, The Teenage Witch,” is starring in the comedy

“Bad Dates” this month at the Laguna Playhouse.

After Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, the Huntington Beach

native called Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, asking if she could make an

appearance at the Fourth Annual Festival of Children while she is in

town.

“It all happened very quickly,” Daniels said. “Hopefully, she’ll

inspire people to help.”

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Broderick will sign autographs

and meet fans at South Coast Plaza’s Carousel Court. The event is

free, and guests are asked to bring a new, unwrapped, nonelectric toy

or game with an attached note of hope. The toys will go to children

displaced by the hurricane.

The toy drive will coincide with the Festival of Children, an

event that serves as a forum for local children’s charities to make

local connections.

The drive is being conducted in conjunction with Operation USA, a

Los Angeles-based disaster relief organization that will send the

toys to the Gulf Coast.

“Our hope is that children will want to come and see her [Beth

Broderick] and see that they can give something back,” said Eileen

Daniher, director of programming for the Festival of Children

Foundation.

Broderick’s appearance at the toy drive is just one of many local

events where residents can donate to hurricane victims.

On Sunday, Bluewater Grill restaurant at South Coast Plaza Village

is hosting a birthday party and donation drive. To celebrate their

son Frankie’s first birthday, Jim and Julie Ann Ulcickas are inviting

more than 100 people to the restaurant -- which Jim co-owns -- and

are asking people to bring donations for hurricane victims.

They are telling guests to bring toys, toiletries and checks, all

of which they plan to give to the Salvation Army.

“I couldn’t have my son, who has everything, open gifts at his

party while people elsewhere are starting from scratch,” Julie Ann

Ulcickas said.

Corona del Mar resident Tracey McCarter began her donation drive

by purchasing a few new items for hurricane victims and sending an

e-mail urging friends to drop boxes off at her home.

The phone calls came in. The boxes arrived. She was floored by the

response.

“It ended up being this huge, massive effort,” McCarter said. “I

realized I’m not going to be able to ship this myself.”

So she contacted Orange County-based Mercy Airlift International,

a nonprofit humanitarian organization that transports goods to

disaster sites.

Today, McCarter is accepting new items -- including diapers,

medical supplies and toiletries -- at her home, 2715 Lighthouse Lane,

in Corona del Mar, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call (949) 300-5855.

Drop-offs are also being accepted at the home of Lisa George, 406

Aliso Ave., in Newport Beach. Contact George at (949) 697-1524.

After today, donations are still being accepted at Mercy Airlift,

2101 Dove St., Newport Beach. All items should be new. Go to

o7www.mercy airlift.org f7for more information.

The Mesa Verde Country Club is hosting a golf tournament at 1:30

p.m. Thursday to raise money for hurricane victims. The event fee is

a minimum donation of $250, with 100% of the entry fee going to the

American Red Cross.

For information, contact Kim Porter at (714) 549-0377, ext. 311.

Operation OC, a division of the Orange County Rescue Mission, is

preparing to receive 100 families displaced by the hurricane.

They are asking for a variety of kitchen and bathroom supplies.

For more information, call (714) 247-4334.

The Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club will be serving

hamburgers, cheeseburgers and hot dogs at the model engineers

Goathill Junction train station, located across the tennis courts at

Estancia High School. All proceeds will be donated to hurricane

relief.

The event will be held Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30

p.m. For more information, call (714) 540-5466.

Eastbluff Elementary students Adam Young and Jason Crane are

concluding a Spare Any Change Campaign. They have already raised more

than $1,500. They are sending money to the Red Cross this afternoon.

To donate to this schoolwide effort, mail a check to Eastbluff

Elementary, 2627 Vista Del Oro, Newport Beach, or call (949)

515-5920.

The Moses Fund, a Costa Mesa-based nonprofit, is making donations

to hurricane victims. Money raised at three drumming circles will go

toward disaster relief. The event is from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at B

Street in Newport Beach near the Newport Pier. Call (714) 432-8138.