Countywide : Youngsters Get to Pick Their Presents

Yolanda Zavala broke into tears while watching her son, David, 7, pick out underwear, socks, a belt and a pair of jeans Friday at a Mervyn’s Department Store.

“He’s been dreaming of those jeans,” Zavala said, wiping her eyes.

Her son was among 100 needy children treated to a shopping spree at the store in the Anaheim Plaza for Christmas. The Salvation Army, which has sponsored the event each year for more than a decade, and several services clubs paid for the merchandise--about $100 worth of new clothes for each child.

About 250 more children will shop at 10 other Mervyn’s stores throughout Orange and Los Angeles counties today.

“This is really nice because this Christmas is going to be kind of tough on us,” said Zavala, whose husband died last year. Zavala, 40, is a student who said she will not be able to afford Christmas gifts for her only son.

At the other side of the store, Desiree found a pair of jeans, a Power Ranger shirt, a blue party dress and tennis shoes that fit. The 8-year-old girl, who lives with her father, mother and eight brothers and sisters in an Anaheim apartment, said she was grateful for the new clothes, which may be the only gifts she will receive this Christmas.

Meanwhile, Lashauna, 6, ran down the store aisles picking out a jacket, a pair of black jeans and a pink bodysuit. “I’m going to wear this to school,” Lashauna said smiling.

“I never got this many clothes before,” she added. “This is like a big old treat for me. I feel so special.”

Event sponsors said making the children feel special was the main reason for the shopping sprees. After they chose their clothes, the children were treated to snacks, coloring books, toys and a visit with Santa.

“It doesn’t seem like a lot, but all these kids come from disadvantaged homes and they really light up with their new clothes,” said Michael Wolf, an Anaheim Sunrise Rotary Club member, who helped children try on and carry their clothing around the store.

“Many of the kids don’t have an opportunity to make a wish list come true, and we try our best to make them come true,” Salvation Army Lt. Ebenezer Saguil said.