HUNTINGTON BEACH : Disabled to Benefit From ‘Wish Trees’

A “Wish Tree” bearing holiday gift requests from people with developmental disabilities will be placed in the Huntington Center mall near the J.C. Penney store on Saturday, with other trees to be placed around the county soon after.

The trees bear gift wishes from about 900 disabled people of ages 2 months to 90 years, all clients of the Developmental Disabilities Center of Orange County.

“A lot of them don’t have family, so it makes a big difference for them,” said Jill Grande Goodsell, chairman of the center’s special events committee. Those who do have families are low-income clients, Goodsell said.

Along with the gift cards, which list the name, age and clothing size of the recipients, are holiday dinner gift certificates. Donors who choose those cards will provide a meal for a family whose story is told on the back of the card.

Other Wish Trees will be located during the holidays at Hadson Corp., 16845 Von Karman Ave., Irvine; Comarco, 160 S. Old Springs Road, Anaheim; Villanueva/Arnoni, 245 Fischer Ave., Costa Mesa; Hair Artists, 5891 Lampson Ave., Garden Grove; Holmes & Narver, 999 Town & Country Road, Orange, and Unocal/Brea.

Those who take cards from the trees may purchase one, two or three of the gifts listed and return the card with the gifts to the Wish Tree location. Volunteers will be available to wrap the presents.