Public Offers Assistance to Send Kids on Day Trip

Donations to a Stanton program for impoverished and disabled children were trickling in Friday after a thief stole nearly $1,000 that was to be used to treat more than 100 children to a day at a local amusement park.

By midday Friday, the program had received more than $100 and a flower arrangement that can be raffled off for cash.

And Adventure City--the amusement park where the kids were headed--pledged to provide tickets for the youngsters, their parents and school leaders.

“We don’t want the kids to be disappointed,” Adventure City President Allan Ansdell said.

Head Start volunteer Cindy Munos had led fund-raising efforts to take 134 students to the Stanton amusement park on the last day of school in June.

But before she could open up a bank account, the $918 she had collected through raffles and yard sales was stolen from her hiding place in her car.

Several Orange County residents who read newspaper reports on the theft or heard about it on the radio were moved to help.

Margaret Mitchell of Garden Grove sent $100. Mitchell said Head Start children often visit an Anaheim Alzheimer’s treatment facility owned by her daughter.

“Our residents react so favorably toward the children. I was very happy to be able to help out,” she said.

Munos, a part-time school supervisor, said she was embarrassed and struggling with feelings of guilt after last month’s theft. But Friday she was overjoyed by the charity. “I think it’s awesome,” she said.

Margie Lopez, child development director at the Head Start program, agreed. “It makes me feel so good,” she said. “What started as a crime came out as a healing thing.”