Huntington Beach : Holiday Trees of Food Cans to Benefit Needy

A 25-foot holiday tree will be constructed with cans of donated food beginning at 7 p.m. Friday in the center court of the Huntington Center mall.

But first, the Huntington Beach/Fountain Valley Board of Realtors, which is sponsoring the food drive, needs donations of canned food. The food can be delivered to any real estate office in Huntington Beach or Fountain Valley that has an Operation Can Tree poster in the window. Or for information on where to drop off donations, call Joe Gnas, co-chairman of the Can Tree event, at (714) 848-5055.

The tree will be topped with a 3-foot star lit by KABC radio personalities Ken and Bob at 7 p.m. Saturday. Santa Claus and the Marine Corps Band will provide entertainment beginning at 6:45 p.m.

Donated cans of food will later be given to a dozen community agencies that assist needy families. Those agencies including Turning Point Family Services; Interval House; Oakview Community Center; Huntington Valley Adult Day Care Center; Dayle McIntosh Center; Project Self-Sufficiency; Shelter for the Homeless; Olive Crest; Council on Aging and Seniors Outreach; One Day at a Time, and Share Our Selves.

Another 200 local families, identified by religious and community services organizations as needing assistance, will also be given canned food, a Board of Realtors spokeswoman said.