Group Has Party, Gifts for Homeless Children

Patricia Trahan left Planet Hope’s holiday party for homeless children Monday with two shopping bags full of new toys for her twin sons and a bouquet of flowers for herself.

“I feel like I’ve been to the mall,” Trahan said, as her eyes filled with tears. “I’m about to cry because I’m so happy for my kids, for all of the kids here.”

Planet Hope, founded by actress Sharon Stone and her sister, Kelly, provided gifts for about 150 children at the Children’s Time Machine, an educational toy store and video arcade in Sherman Oaks. Actor Tom Arnold played Santa Claus, announcing names, presenting gifts and posing for pictures.

“A lot of kids are getting the only gift they’re going to get all Christmas,” said Kelly Stone, Planet Hope’s executive director.

Buses picked up the children and their mothers at five shelters and brought them to the Children’s Time Machine. They played video games, ate lunch, had their faces painted, watched a dinosaur movie and received presents.

“We know their parents are focused on getting their lives back on track and are so busy filling basic needs that the holiday really puts a strain on them,” said Cindy Chandler, a Planet Hope spokeswoman.

About $75,000 worth of gifts were donated by Mattel, DreamWorks, Warner Bros. and several other corporations, according to Kelly Stone. Each mother was given a bouquet of flowers, donated by 1-800-FLOWERS.

“It’s truly a blessing,” said Denise Hope, who brought her three sons to the party. She has been living at the Good Shepherd Mother-Child Shelter in Hollywood for three months.

“I don’t have the money to buy them presents for Christmas,” Hope said. “It makes me feel happy that somebody takes the time to make Christmas possible for children of need.”