Holiday party puts smiles on faces of Newport-Mesa kids
Talia Christopher, 5, clung to her mother’s leg, mesmerized by the spectacle of a sparkling Christmas tree surrounded by presents.
“We don’t have a Christmas tree. We don’t have decorations like this,” her mother, Raleigh Christopher, said. “This is awesome.”
On Sunday, Talia Christopher, a kindergartner at Adams Elementary School, was among 80 or so children who had gathered to enjoy an early Christmas at the Costa Mesa Country Club. The second-annual event, organized by the nonprofit radio station KOCI and the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, was meant to bring holiday cheer to area students who are in need.
About 200 Newport-Mesa students are classified as homeless. Some are part of a family like the Christophers, who live at the Costa Mesa Motor Inn.
Raleigh Christopher, a former paralegal, said she spends her days caring for her two children, one of whom has autism. Her husband’s intermittent work as a carpenter means the family lives paycheck to paycheck, she said.
“These are families living in shelters or motels, and sometimes they’re camping in a family member’s back yard,” explained Troy Davis, an on-air host and president of the KOCI Advisory Board.
On Sunday, the children and their parents lunched on pizza, rigatoni, fruit salad and bundt cakes. The children’s excited voices filled the room as they awaited Santa’s arrival.
Costa Mesa Mayor Steve Mensinger welcomed the families, noting, “Christmas isn’t about what we get. It’s about what we give.”
Later, each child took a turn talking to Santa. “What would you like?” Santa asked, telling each child to choose from among the more than 100 unwrapped toys around the tree. A few elves (football players from Estancia High School) passed the gifts to Santa.
In addition, each child received a package of essentials, such as toiletries and blankets, tied with either a pink or blue ribbon.
“Do you think there’s an Elsa doll?” Talia asked her mother as she waited for her turn with Santa.
Santa granted her wish, along with that of 5-year-old Rickki Corlew, who also wanted the popular Disney doll. Corlew’s brother could hardly wait to tear into his present: a Nerf Mega Blaster.
“Wait until we get home,” his mother, Vanica Peredes, said, beaming.
Peredes, 35, said her family spent last Christmas in a motel. This Christmas, the family is staying somewhere better, though she declined to say where. The sight of her children’s joy brought tears to her eyes.
When the school called her about the event, she said she knew this Christmas was going to be better than last year. “I wanted to cry when the school called,” the mom said.