Picnic Cheers Children in Sex Abuse Probes

Manhattan Beach children undergoing counseling for sexual abuse were given an old-fashioned picnic Sunday complete with TV personalities, games, live music and a fried chicken lunch at a local high school.

The picnic, organized by parents of children who attended McMartin Pre-School and five other area preschools now closed as part of an investigation into alleged child sexual abuse, attracted more than 100 families who went to see such stars as Emmanuel Lewis of television’s “Webster” and several soap opera performers.

“It’s important for each and every child to know there’s a lot of children just like them out there,” said Vickie Meyers, a parent. “My son feels like he’s sitting alone in his play box and he’s the first one who’s gone through such terrible things. He isn’t alone. He isn’t the first one.”

Laura Brennan, who helped organize the event, said she and other parents view the picnic as part of a “healing process.” The picnic was also used to raise money for a South Bay center to counsel children whose parents cannot afford private therapists and to garner support for legislation allowing abused children to testify in court via closed-circuit television.