Volunteers

SANTA ANA

Platelet Donor Keeps on Giving

Who: Michael Stevens

Contribution: He has donated blood platelets to the American Red Cross 100 times, becoming the first Orange County resident to hit the 100th mark in platelet donations. Stevens has been donating blood since 1984, when he donated platelets for a 5-year-old Anaheim girl. Platelets control bleeding by helping blood to clot and are given to chemotherapy and radiation patients, whose bodies don’t produce enough. It takes twice as long to donate platelets as it does to give a regular blood donation.

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HUNTINGTON BEACH

Reaching Out to Troubled Kids

Who: Huntington Beach Police Officers’ Assn.

Contribution: It donated $1,000 for the Outreach Center, which is scheduled to open in the downtown police substation in early 1995. The center will provide crisis intervention and parent education for youth and families. It is part of the Huntington Youth Shelter, a temporary residence for runaway and troubled youths. The shelter has helped more than 80 families since it opened in January. Shelter co-founder Carol Kanode said services will be provided by trained volunteers who will have completed a series of classes. Those interested in volunteering are asked to call (714) 847-KIDS. The association’s donation will go toward buying training materials and supplies for the Outreach Center. Kanode said the center also received a $5,000 grant from McDonnell Douglas.

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IRVINE

Aid for Fire’s Fighters, Victims

Who: Employees of the Hyatt hotel in Irvine

Contribution: They provided round-the-clock food and drinks to firefighters during the October, 1993, Laguna Beach fire, which earned them an award from the Southern California Emergency Services Assn. The hotel also provided food at the Woodbridge High School Evacuation Center and offered free rooms to residents who had to leave their homes because of the fire. Hyatt employees set up a mobile restaurant at Turtle Rock Community Park for the emergency command center, serving food to firefighters.

Irvine Police Chief Charles S. Brobeck presented the award to Hyatt general manager Rod Schinnerer and employees.

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COSTA MESA

Proving to Be Good Neighbors

Who: More than 100 Target team members at the Huntington Beach Target store

Contribution: They donated personal clothing to Costa Mesa homeless shelter earlier this month as part of their ongoing Good Neighbor program. Lynn Mitchell, a team leader for the store, said the donations, which were collected over two weeks, gave her a chance to “give back” to her community and its shelter, at 1963 Wallace Ave.

--COMPILED BY LYNN FRANEY, WITH CONTRIBUTIONS BY RUSS LOAR, TOM RAGAN AND DEBRA CANO.