8-year-old finds stability and love in grandma’s home

Gloria Guerra’s attachment to her granddaughter runs so deep that she’s afraid to let her go away for a week at Camp Arbolado this summer. But when a staff member at the Boys & Girls Club of La Habra / Brea told Guerra about the benefits of experiencing the San Gorgonio Wilderness, Guerra agreed that it might be good for 8-year-old Mia.

“I’m a little protective,” she says.

Guerra’s attitude is understandable after what she and Mia have been through. Just over a year ago, Guerra realized that her daughter, Mia’s mother, had serious drug addiction problems and had been neglecting her child. Mia had never met her father, who, Guerra says, has been in and out of prison.

Sometimes Guerra would get a call from the Boys & Girls Club saying that Mia had been forgotten there after hours.

One time Mia was left at school after the other children and teachers had gone home. “Only the teacher with the stop sign was left,” remembers Mia, referring to the school’s crossing guard.

Another time, Guerra found Mia eating uncooked ramen. The girl’s mother, Guerra says, was passed out in her bedroom and hadn’t fed her daughter.

Since Guerra has taken charge of caring for her, Mia often eats manicotti or carne asada with fideos -- two of her grandmother’s specialties.

Guerra has also pampered Mia with a purple Tinkerbell-themed bedroom remodel. A framed picture of Mia and her mother in an embrace sits on the dresser as a reminder of happier days. Mia’s mother is now seeking help.

Guerra says that Mia wakes up crying in the middle of the night because she misses her mother. For the last few months, she has been able to see her mom on the weekends, but, Mia says, “it’s different now.”

Nonetheless, Mia is a happy child. She does a little clap-and-wiggle dance when she is excited about something -- and that includes camp.

“I’ll be able to sleep outside!” Mia cries.

No, Guerra corrects her, “you’re going to be in a cabin.”

“Ooooh, a cabin,” marvels Mia, just as thrilled.

About 10,000 underprivileged children will go to camp this summer, thanks to $1.6 million raised last year.

The annual fundraising campaign is part of the Los Angeles Times Family Fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation, which this year will match the first $1.1 million in contributions at 50 cents on the dollar.

Donations are tax-deductible. For more information, call (213) 237-5771. To make donations by credit card, go to latimes.com/summercamp.

To send checks, use the attached coupon. Do not send cash.

Unless requested otherwise, gifts of $50 or more will be acknowledged in The Times.