AND lAwNDAle News The Weekly Newspaper of Lawndale Herald Publications - Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale, El Segundo, Torrance & Manhattan Beach Community Newspapers Since 1911 - Circulation 30,000 - Readership 60,000 (310) 322-1830 - December 27, 2012 Inside Holiday Spirit with Local SeniorsKiwanis Club of Hawthorne Shares This Issue Calendar...............................2 Classifieds ...........................2 Food ......................................8 Legals ...............................5-7 Pets.......................................4 Sports ...................................3 who enjoyed Master Chef Bob Marsella’s famous pasta and meatballs, with salad and garlic bread, followed by coffee and ice cream. Members of Hawthorne and Leuzinger High School Key Club helpedThe Kiwanis Club of Hawthorne hosted its traditional Holiday Seniors Luncheon on Friday, Dec. 7 at the Hawthorne Memorial Center as they shared the Holiday spirit with, and served more than 200 guests, serve the guests, the Leuzinger High School Choir led by Director Joy Davlin entertained the crowd with holiday favorites. Photo courtesy of the Kiwanis Club of Hawthorne. Local Foundation Helps Wounded Vets, Their Families By Cristian Vasquez the opportunity to speak at a lot of different wrapping and all the work--it is the wounded Since its inception, the 911 Help America places and reach many different agencies. guys themselves that are preparing the toys Foundation has been dedicated to reaching “We had a meeting at work and he Talleda for the kids,” Talleda said. “What we do is out to those who have been affected by was one of four nonprofit organizations that that after they do the wrapping, they sign the September 11 terrorist attacks and the came to our office. One of the things that the present with their rank and name. That subsequent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. stood out to me about the organization was way when the kids open it up on the other Weekend on day one. the United States Department of Agriculture that are receiving gifts are the children ofend, they will know that it was a woundedwarrior that sent it to them. All of the kidsthe fact that he supports veterans and to usthat is just great,” Pacific Area Manager forDuring this year’s holiday season, thefoundation’s mission is as strong as it was Forecast emotional help that the foundation provides about giving money, but about providing part of our foundation. The only problemwounded or fallen warriors that have beenKaren Kraubner-Lucas said. “It’s not justIn addition to the usual financial and to wounded veterans returning from Iraq and moral support to the veterans in the South with that is that we do not have the deep Afghanistan, during the Christmas season the Bay. It is something that I find to be great. pockets to take care of all the things that Friday of veterans throughout Southern California. money or by giving people items, that they we would love to do.”Toys were collected until the last possibleA lot of people think that by just givingorganization collected extra toys for the children Partly “We have been sending toys to the kids of have helped them. There is more than just moment and delivered every weekend leading Cloudy wounded warriors ever since we have started. that--it’s about giving them vets a place to up to Christmas. Some gifts will be mailed to However, the actual toy drive and delivery go when what they need is companionship families that are now out of state, but those in 60˚/49˚ of things is a little more recent,” President and somebody to talk to. They have a place Southern California will be delivered directly of the 911 Help America Foundation Mike to go where they are around people that are to each family by fellow wounded veterans. Talleda said. “Every Christmas, we send them like them rather than having to go over to Working with the wounded veterans on a daily families extra money and sometimes we the VA hospital in search of support from basis involves facing issues like depression Saturday would send a toy here and a toy there. The someone that they don’t trust.” and suicide, which makes for an emotional actual toy drive we started two years ago, so Other local agencies that have donated to experience. However, the foundation offers Partly this will be our third year where we actually the 911 Help America Foundation include the these men and women a place where they Cloudy have someone dressed like Santa Claus that Gas Company in El Segundo and Customs can be surrounded by people with similar will then go deliver toys with us as far as and Border Protection located in San Pedro, experiences, all while engaging in active and 58˚/50˚ Chula Vista.” as well as a group from the local Air Force productive activities. Collecting the toys is no easy task, but it is Base. Since its foundation, The 911 Help “The truth is that no one is doing what we do. something that Talleda is committed to and America Foundation has grown and to date With us, it is the warriors themselves wrapping that effort has paid off for the foundation they have helped more than wounded veterans presents--it is the warriors themselves Sunday and for the veterans. Through the Combine and their families. Many of the wounded organizing everything,” Talleda said. “What Few federal government, charitable organizations referred through word of mouth from fellow additional therapy and it just so happens thatwe do here is a therapeutic activity. This iswarriors that make up the foundation areFederal Campaign, which is organized by the Showers such as the 911 Help America Foundation wounded veterans. Many other referrals the kids are getting a bunch of toys out of 57˚/47˚ from federal agencies. Every year the recommend the foundation. about them the veterans. We want peopleit. This isn’t just about the kids. This is alsocome from the VA itself, whose caseworkershave the right to go out and solicit donations foundation takes part in the campaign that “First of all, we have a bunch of warriors to know that these guys that runs from September to December, giving it that come here. These guys are doing all the See Help America, page 2
Lawndale 12_27_12
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