Group Holds Holiday Party for the Poor

Alex and Lupe Aparicio, North Hollywood parents of seven children, waited four hours for help with the only Christmas they’ll have this year.

The Aparicio family lined up at 8 a.m. Sunday at Van Nuys Boulevard and Valerio Street with about 1,000 other needy parents and children to receive toys and a lunch sack. The Knights of Columbus, which sponsored the event that lasted from noon to 4 p.m., has done this for the last 15 years.

The Knights of Columbus lot and building were festooned with Christmas trees, reindeer statues, wreaths and candy-striped poles. Christmas carols blared from speakers. Councilman Michael Feuer passed out dolls, dominoes and stuffed animals to children.

However, the event’s main purpose goes beyond what the families received Sunday, said Candido Marez, who heads the organization.

“It’s OK to give a kid a toy and some food, but they have to go home to bigger problems,” Marez said. “This is a welcoming doormat for them to come to us after the Christmas party and then let us give them information to improve their lives.”

Last year, Marez said, about 500 people came back after the event for help with such things as looking for a job, or just money for gasoline.

On Sunday, young people who have benefited from Jeopardy, a program that gives at-risk youth alternatives to crime, passed out programs.

The Aparicios said they plan to come back for help finding a job. The family is struggling to get by on the $200 a week Alex Aparicio makes as a tattoo artist.

“We’ve been looking for a place like this to get help,” Lupe Aparicio said.

Knights of Columbus officials said they hope families that receive help will then give back to the community by cleaning up graffiti or trash.

Cousins Perry Chea, 11, and Patrick Yoeuth, 11, showed up at their first Christmas party when they were 6, wearing no shoes. Their families had just emigrated from Cambodia.

The boys, thankful for the shoes, new clothes and food they received, volunteered to decorate and pass out candy canes Sunday.

“We want to help this program help people,” Perry said. “Because this program helped us,” Patrick said.