Community & Clubs: Local teens assist kids in getting school supplies

More than 40 college and high school leaders from Orange Coast College Circle K and the Costa Mesa and Estancia High School Key Clubs mentored nearly two dozen children from Costa Mesa during a shopping trip for school clothes at Sears, South Coast Plaza. The children, all members of the Boys & Girls Club of the Harbor Area, were selected on the basis of need.

The partnership of Kiwanis, the Boys & Girls Club, Circle K, and the Key Clubs have become a potent force benefiting the children of Costa Mesa. The project was planned by a committee of students including chairwoman Kelly Ho and Patrick Junpradub from OCC, Gianna Jason and Ilene Umansky from Estancia, and Abby To and Michael Chantos from Costa Mesa High. Kiwanian Jeff Dimsdale was the project advisor.

In addition to a full complement of clothing and shoes, the children from first through 11th grade received comprehensive school supply kits appropriate to their grade thanks to the generosity of donors, including Hoag Hospital, the Costa Mesa Community Foundation, Union Bank, South Coast Plaza, Sears, Office Depot, Orange Coast College, the Starbucks Coffee Co. and attorney Gregory Bartone.

Energy was high on the bus ride from Sears, and the day concluded with an All-American picnic. It included traditional games, crafts, prizes, and a great barbecue lunch.

Meanwhile, the Assistance League of Newport Mesa Operation School Bell assisted nearly 140 children on Saturday, Aug. 24, with new clothes and school supplies, according to Lee Glover, who was assisted by Assisteen members and their moms along with members of the La Marisa Chapter. The students were also screened for dental at the same time and found teeth that needed help.

Planting trees

Carol Proctor, the newly-installed president of the Harbor Mesa Lions, has announced the tree planting project for helping our environment in Costa Mesa and surrounding cities.

Working with the city of Costa Mesa, plans are being formed to replace trees in Lion’s Park this fall. The Lions of District 4L4, consisting of 1,150 members in 39 clubs from San Clemente to Rancho Cucamonga, and headed by Gov. Ken Sherwood, are participating in the proposal of planting 1,000 trees in their respective local communities within the next year.

The “Sherwood’s Forest” project is in conjunction with the Lions International President’s mission to plant trees worldwide. For more information about Harbor Mesa Lions, go to nhcmlions.com. or https://www.lionsclubs.org.

New clergy welcome luncheon

The Newport-Mesa-Irvine Interfaith Council will welcome clergy of all faith communities who are new to their congregations to a special luncheon being held at 11:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, according to Rev. Julie Elkins, Council president.

This will be the largest turnout of religious leaders at our monthly luncheons, as we invite all religious leaders, clergy and lay, to join us in welcoming the new clergy, according to Elkins, a minister at First United Methodist Church of Costa Mesa. The luncheon is free for new clergy while all other attendees will pay $10 with reservations, $15 without a reservation.

The program will include a panel discussion on “Funeral Practices of different Faiths,” according to program chairman Greg Kelley, a council board member. The panel will include the practices of Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh faiths.

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is located at 1441 W. Balboa Blvd., Newport Beach, CA 92661. Luncheon reservations can be made by emailing [email protected] or calling (714) 921-8665.

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS THIS WEEK

You are invited to attend a service club meeting this coming week to learn more about opportunities for service. Most clubs will buy your first meal for you as you get acquainted with them.

TODAY

Noon: The Exchange Club of Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, 1601 Bayside Drive, Corona del Mar.

5:15 p.m.: The 10-member Rotary Club of Costa Mesa meets at the Ramada Inn & Suites, 1680 Superior Ave., Costa Mesa. Visit https://www.costamesarotary.org.

6 p.m.: The 55-member Rotary Club of Newport Balboa meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a program by former NFL Coach and scout Mike Giddings.

THURSDAY

7 a.m.: The 20-member Costa Mesa Orange Coast Lions Club meets at Mimi’s Café, Newport & Harbor Blvds., Costa Mesa.

Noon: The 45-member Kiwanis Club of Newport Beach-Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. For more information, visit https://www.newportbeachkiwanis.org.

The 95-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a business meeting and for a program by Orange County Employees Assn. General Manager and OC Fair Board member Nick Berardino. For more information visit https://www.nhexchange.org.

The 40-member Kiwanis Club of Costa Mesa meets at the Costa Mesa Golf and Country Club, 1701 Golf Course Drive, Costa Mesa. For more information, visit https://www.costamesakiwanis.org.

The 55-member Rotary Club of Newport Irvine meets at the University Club, 801 E. Peltason Drive, Irvine, for a program by John Kabatech, state director, National Federation of Independent Businesses, “Legislative Challenges Facing California Businesses.” Visit https://www.ni-rotary.org.

The 45-member Kiwanis Club of Costa Mesa meets at the Costa Mesa Golf and Country Club. https://www.costamesakiwanis.org

TUESDAY

7:15 a.m.: The 55-member Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club meets at Five Crowns Restaurant, 3801 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, for the official visit of Rotary District 5320 Gov. Greg Owens. For more information, go to https://www.newportbeachsunriserotary.org.

COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published twice monthly on Wednesdays. Send your service club’s meeting information e-mail to [email protected].