Holiday Treat: Helping Others : IRVINE : Groups Give Shelter, Food, Holiday Cheer

For a group of Brownies in Irvine, charity this Christmas will be as simple, yet as precious, as giving Barbie dolls to a couple of little girls less fortunate than themselves.

For members of the Irvine Assembly of God, charity this holiday season will be as ambitious as clothing, feeding and bringing Christmas cheer to a needy family.

And for the 95 employees at the new Irvine Medical Center, holiday charity will be as thoughtful as buying gifts and Christmas trees for two poor families.

Thanks to the efforts of the Irvine Temporary Housing agency, help is available for many of the city’s needy.

Irvine Temporary Housing, founded in 1984 and dedicated to helping the homeless and poor, has matched churches, agencies and volunteers with families who need help this Christmas. Brownie Troop 805, the Irvine Assembly of God and Irvine Medical Center are just a few of the groups participating in the agency’s volunteer Christmas project.

There is a critical need for help. This year alone, from January through May, the Irvine agency received calls for housing and other assistance for nearly 1,200 adults and children.

Despite its image as an upper-middle-class community, Irvine has not been left untouched by homelessness and poverty, said Evelyn Huebner, program director for temporary housing group.

“The trend we are seeing is families being hit by unemployment and medical catastrophes,” Huebner said.

Through the agency’s transitional housing program, homeless families are given shelter in 10 apartments and two farmhouses operated by the group. Food and clothing also are provided.

But during the holidays, the needs become really special. For children especially, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a tree to decorate and presents to unwrap.

“The idea of assisting the homeless really touched my heart,” said Debbie Stremmel, an organizer of the Irvine Assembly of God’s effort. “When you make it in your career and your family makes it, it’s time to give some of it back to the community.”