Countywide : CHP Collects Food for Outreach Group

The officers and civilians who work at the California Highway Patrol office in San Juan Capistrano called it “a chance to do something positive.”

That’s why for the last eight months they have collected a large assortment of canned goods, foodstuffs and holiday turkeys, which they donated Tuesday to the nonprofit United Community Outreach, which serves the needy in Orange County.

“The CHP unfortunately deals with tragedy many times during any 24-hour period. We see a lot of the bad things that happen out there,” said Bruce Lian, a CHP public affairs officer. “So we got together at one of our meetings and figured we should do something positive. It’s not a martyr thing, but just our way of trying to help and being thankful for what we have that others might not.”

Spearheaded by Officer Tony Camilleri, the effort began last April with a sign placed at the CHP office on Camino Capistrano, asking for donations. Since that time, people from all over the county who have come into the office for whatever reason have returned with donations, Lian said. One woman arrived with 20 turkeys, and Irvine Valley College and Saddleback College, represented by Vern Hodge, vice president of student services at Saddleback, brought in 10 boxes of food, he said.

“The people came in here to pick up accident reports or have tickets signed off and would see the sign,” Lian said. “But then they would come back with the food on their own time. Everything from just a couple of cans of soup to 20 turkeys. We thought that was pretty special.”

Diana Spitz, who founded United Community Outreach two years ago with her husband, Paul, said they were thrilled that the organization had been recognized by the CHP.

“We are very excited about this,” she said. “This is the first time an outside agency like the Highway Patrol has supported us. Most of our support until now has come from churches or county facilities. We’re now hoping that businesses and other agencies will realize we are here and that we’re able to help the needy.”