Countywide : Children in Need Get Shopping Treat

Five minutes after 100 children and their chaperons poured into the Anaheim Plaza Mervyn’s for a Christmas shopping spree Friday, 7-year-old Luke had picked out some crisp blue jeans, a T-shirt bearing “Wolverine,” his favorite cartoon super hero, and sneakers that flashed red with every step.

He was especially happy to get the sneakers because the ones he wore were falling apart at the seams.

“This is fun--I get to go shopping,” said Luke, who lives in Anaheim.

“He’s really a prepared shopper,” said Maria Horner, an administrator with the Orange County Girl Scouts Council and Luke’s chaperon.

“He knows what he wants and where it is.”

Such scenes were played out Friday across Orange County as 11 Mervyn’s stores opened their doors to needy youngsters.

In conjunction with the Salvation Army, the stores permitted each child to shop before the public opening time and select $80 worth of free clothing and accessories.

It was the program’s 13th year.

Many chaperons--who represented community groups such as the Kiwanis and Rotary clubs and those associated with churches and schools--paid the difference when youngsters’ selections exceeded the limit.

“We hope that the children learn from this that if we all stick together as a community, we can pull each other through even the toughest times,” Salvation Army Lt. Troy Trimmer said. “People do care about you even if you are down and out.”

A similar event is scheduled today in Garden Grove, where, for the second consecutive year, city police officers will help 40 kids pick out gifts in a Kmart store on Katella Avenue, said Sgt. George Jaramillo of the Garden Grove Police Department.

The kids will have breakfast with the officers, who will join the store in paying for the gifts, Jaramillo said.

At the Anaheim Plaza Mervyn’s, manager Lynn Tomko had tears in her eyes as she watched the children scamper through the clothing department.

“Sometimes this is so overwhelming,” she said. “You can see the children’s need. I wish I could do something like this every day.”

Rachael, 8, of Anaheim, came down an aisle clutching a floppy purple hat with a dried daisy in its brim. She had eyed it since she walked in the store.

“It’s very pretty,” she said. “And I like hats. I have a whole lot of them.”

Willis, 11, said he doesn’t go shopping very often. The Anaheim youngster selected two pairs of pants, a shirt and some shoes and was browsing at the white athletic socks.

“It’s great to get some nice clothes,” he said.

When Santa Claus appeared, 6-year-old Saul ran up to him, gave him a hug and asked: “Are you Santa Claus?”

When told that indeed this was the genuine Santa, Saul looked up and asked: “But where’s your reindeer?”

“On the roof,” Santa said, and Saul smiled, satisfied.

Linda Anderson, Saul’s chaperon and an Irvine secretary, said: “These kids are really so appreciative and so nice.”

Trimmer stood back and watched the children dash about.

“You sense the children’s joy,” Trimmer said. “I hope that they can hold onto this feeling of Christmas the rest of their lives.”