O.C. Nobly Unites in Spirit of Giving : The Holiday Serves as Reminder of Concern for Others

The boats in Newport Bay are decorated and so are the churches in Mission Viejo. Tons of food have been collected and distributed. Finally, it is Christmas.

The Orange County bankruptcy stunned county residents and occurred at a time when most people gladly would have been turning their thoughts to the holidays, to spiritual concerns and to families, and to wondering where the year went and whether to put flocking on the tree. It was more difficult this year, but the important concern for others at the core of the season did shine through.

In Anaheim, more than 100 police and firefighters, Salvation Army representatives and volunteers from community groups drove through neighborhoods singing carols and collecting food for the needy. The day of caroling and collecting has become an annual tradition.

In Costa Mesa, the Philharmonic Society and the Orange County Performing Arts Center had their first Christmas celebration for children. It deserves to become an annual event. Children watched gleefully as Mexican folk dancers and mariachi bands entertained; performers staged Las Posadas, the traditional Mexican processions portraying Joseph and Mary’s journey to Bethlehem. Some were children of recent immigrants; others were the sons and daughters of AIDS patients. Local companies and volunteer groups provided toys.

In Santa Ana, a retail store donated a Christmas tree, the Fire Department delivered it and parents planted and decorated it to symbolize new hope in a neighborhood plagued by gangs until a police sweep last fall. The parents have done good work all year, banding together to walk children to school safely along streets that too often echoed with gunfire. Their actions reflected the need to help police and other government agencies stop a neighborhood’s decay.

The Orange County chapter of the American Red Cross brought Santa Claus along to help pass out toys collected from high schools and businesses. The recipients were children from elementary and intermediate schools in Santa Ana who one volunteer said, “might not have a Christmas otherwise.” The Red Cross wisely enlisted more than 100 youth volunteers to help pass out the gifts and work with children to fashion crafts. That helps build a sense of community, which is especially needed in tough times.

In Westminster, volunteers also helped Abrazar Inc., which conducted its 15th annual food giveaway, but which also required something from the recipients. Each family receiving a shopping cart filled with $125 worth of food had to contribute $25. The director of Abrazar (Spanish for “to hug”) said families showed up on time when they had a financial stake in the donation.

There were ceremonies, too, at the homeless shelters, food distribution centers and other locations where workers labor year-round to help those needing it. The Salvation Army said it expects to give Christmas food and gifts to 10,000 families in Orange County, the most ever.

The charitable organizations deserve thanks and support. Last year the county marked Christmas less than three months after the devastating Laguna Beach fires. This year it came only weeks after the bankruptcy that caused many to wonder if they would lose their government or teaching jobs.

For Christians, today is a religious holiday. For everyone, regardless of belief, it can be an occasion to remind us of our concern for others. And the decorations and trees all around can help spur optimism, and sustain a spirit of sharing and giving that goes so well with the season.