COMMUNITY & CLUBS:Special deliveries for 3 families

Members of the Harbor Mesa Lions club fulfilled the wishes of three families last weekend as they delivered food, warm clothing, shoes, blankets and toys to their homes. The project was chaired by Lion Sue Seager, who contacted a local school for names of the families who needed help. The items were purchased and donated by members of the Harbor Mesa Lions. There were plenty of hugs, smiles and tears from the families and the Lions.

President Arlene Schafer was especially touched by a little 7-year-old boy who followed them to their cars and said with tears in his eyes, “Now, I really believe in Santa Claus!”

“It is times like these that we truly feel blessed to be a Lion,” Schafer said.

BOAT PARADE PARTY

American Assn. of University Women public relations Chairwoman Carole Strauss invited me to join the American Assn. of University Women on Dec. 13 for the annual Newport Harbor Boat Parade party. I quickly accepted the invitation because I had not seen the parade from Kings Road, only from a boat or the shore in previous years.

The event was held at the beautifully remodeled home of Emily and Walter Hackler, which overlooks the Orange Coast College sailing school. Emily serves as president of the Newport-Mesa-Irvine chapter of the association, and Walter takes great pride in his three meticulously decorated Christmas trees that overlook the living room. The committee that put the event together for 80 some attendees were Heidi Sinay, Gayle Perry and Jane Henley. Ramzy Mankarious, husband of member Samai Mankarious, was drafted to serve as bartender. Greeters were Carolyn Cooper and Lettie Pivan.

A delicious buffet dinner, provided by the chapter’s members, was served prior to the arrival of the first parade boats. It was a most enjoyable evening as I met new friends and saw some old friends. One benefit of watching from Kings Road is there’s little to no traffic getting to the viewing point.

SNOWBALL EXPRESS DID MORE THAN ENTERTAIN

More than 500 volunteers worked last weekend’s Snowball Express, which brought widows and more than 600 children of military personnel who were killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. I was lucky to be one of those volunteers, greeting the arriving families at John Wayne Airport. Many Daily Pilot readers sent contributions to support the arriving families. Here are some e-mails we received this week that I thought I would share.

Dear Snowball Express Team,

My two daughters and I just arrived back to upstate New York and couldn’t wait to get a thank you to you for the most perfect weekend! I cannot begin to tell you how much healing this trip did for us. I think driving up to Oakley headquarters and seeing all of those beautiful volunteers waving the American flag did our hearts good. I don’t think there was a dry eye on the bus. I don’t think I will ever forget how I felt knowing so many Americans care. You have inspired me to try (maybe on a lot smaller level!) to start doing something in my community. You are truly great people, and I feel so blessed for this opportunity. Thank you, thank you!

A second mother wrote us:

A simple thank you doesn’t seem to be enough. Mike Kerr, the Snowball Express and all the volunteers showed me and my family that there are decent people out there who do truly care what happens to the families of the fallen. My children had lots of fun this weekend, but more than all that, they got to connect with children in their same situation. They learned they’re not alone — there are more children out there who have lost their dad or mom. You fulfilled a dream of my husband’s — he wanted to take the kids to Disneyland. Although he wasn’t with us there, we carried him with us in spirit in our hearts. Thank you again so much for all you’ve done.

A third mother wrote us:

The support we had from everyone was just wonderful. My son was just in shock to see that all the children who were there all had lost a parent too. He had opened up and had many questions. Because of this Snowball Express, the children and the widows were connected, and nobody felt sorry for anyone because we are all going through it together. It rained during our trip, and I believe it was our heroes from up above looking down on us and crying in happiness to see everyone enjoying themselves. Thank you so much to all of the volunteers and vendors, companies and anyone who donated time or money.

And here are reports from the Rotary volunteers working the Snowball Express.

One widow told the story of her grade school daughter who was angry and came home from school wondering why she didn’t have a father like the other kids. On the bus, she noticed that there were no fathers and turned to the girl across from her and said, “Did your daddy die too?” And when the other little girl replied in the affirmative, they hugged and have been inseparable ever since.

And then there was the one that ruined my Friday evening. As I was helping people on the bus from the Westin to go to the Crystal Cathedral, a little girl about 2 years old grabbed me around the leg in a vise grip and her mother had to literally pry her loose, apologizing that she really misses her daddy. That broke me up and brings tears every time I think about it. I couldn’t go to the cathedral after that.

A 6-year-old boy and his mother came up to the Snowball Express founder and the boy said, “When my Dad was killed six months ago, I didn’t think I would have a Christmas. Thanks to the Snowball Express I am having a Christmas.”

To read more comments from the participants and Rotarians visit www.rotary5320.org and click on “Snowball Express.”

I hope that at your holiday dinner you will join our family in saying a prayer for the men and women of the armed services and their families, recognizing the sacrifices they all make on our behalf.

Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas to all!

WORTH REPEATING

From the Thought for the Day as provided by Greg Kelley of the Newport-Mesa-Irvine Interfaith Council:

“To maintain a joyful family requires much from both the parents and the children. Each member of the family has to become, in a special way, the servant of the others.”

— POPE JOHN PAUL II