Holiday Treat: Helping Others : FULLERTON : Elks, Hospital Plan Party for Families

The child’s Christmas wish list said: “Will you please give my dad a sweater because when he goes to work he’s cold. His size is large.”

The note, Elks Lodge member Jim Lynch said, “sort of hit a chord with the guys. So I’m sure that kid will get a sweater somewhere, as well as another gift.

St. Jude Hospital and Rehabilitation Center in Fullerton had provided the names of 20 families, and the Elks invited the children in those families to write a list of what they would like for Christmas.

“We are a bunch of softies,” Lynch said. “When we hear stories like that, we break up more than the nurses do.”

There were 118 children, and their names and requests were tied to a tree. Club members then picked one or more names from the tree.

Many of the children asked for clothes. “Some of the kids miss several days of school because they don’t have decent clothes to wear,” said Don Ingraham, who is chairman of the Christmas program.

The Elks will throw a party for the families Dec. 17 that will include entertainment by a clown, games, Christmas caroling, and an appearance by Santa Claus. Each family will also receive a basket with a turkey and other makings for a Christmas dinner.

“It’s a wonderful thing to do,” Lynch said. “It’s too bad there are still families that we have to do it for.”