Easter Treats Given to Children at Shelter

At an Easter basket giveaway Thursday in North Hollywood, it was hard to tell which was brighter--the colorful plastic baskets or the smiles of the children receiving them.

About 150 children who had been living at the Los Angeles Family Housing shelter for abused children and displaced families got packages of candy and other goodies delivered from the United Way, AFL-CIO and, of course, the Easter Bunny.

For Sophia Silva, it meant having a holiday-like Easter, rather than just another day at home eating Cup O’ Noodles with her five children as she did last year.

“This is part of a big week for me,” Silva said.

“We moved, by the grace of God, yesterday to a new apartment. We got Easter baskets today, and Sunday we are having dinner at my mother’s house.”

Silva said she and her family stayed at the shelter for a few weeks after she left a troubled relationship.

Others go to the facility for housing and job assistance.

The North Hollywood distribution--in its fifth year--was the first of 30 stops for the AFL-CIO and United Way.

AFL-CIO community services program director Armando Olivas said the organizations will hand out 3,000 baskets by this afternoon.

“Kids and families get a lot of support during the Christmas holidays,” Olivas said.

“But people tend to forget about others in need throughout the year. We do this in the spring to let the kids know people still love them, not just at Christmastime.”