Helping at the holidays: Benefits, boutiques, assistance and events
During the holidays, many community groups put together feasts and assistance programs for those in need. Others present opportunities to celebrate. Here are examples of both:
Benefits
Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa-based Share Our Selves is conducting its 45th Adopt A Family program by connecting donors with more than 1,300 families in the area.
Donors are asked to provide each child in a family with at least two new gifts or provide the family with a complete holiday dinner — or both. Companies, schools and organizations are asked to consider holding food and toy drives to help families who are not “adopted.”
To participate or for more information, email AAF2014@shareourselves.org, call (949) 270-2187 or visit https://www.shareourselves.org.
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On Christmas, the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen provides a meal and celebration for those in need. More than 500 guests are served each holiday, and many are first-timers to the Soup Kitchen.
Someone Cares is at 720 W. 19th St. For more information, call (949) 548-8861.
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Irvine
The South County Outreach Adopt-A-Family program is looking for sponsors to provide groceries for holiday meals along with gifts for children.
Sponsors can ask to be matched with families of a particular size or according to the ages of the children or city of residence. They will also have the chance to meet the families they are helping.
A toy and food drive through Dec. 18 will accept donations at the program offices, 7 Whatney in Irvine.
On Dec. 20, the South County Outreach food pantry will be transformed into a holiday toy store where parents can choose gifts for their children that will be wrapped onsite.
Volunteer opportunities are available for the holidays and beyond. For more information, visit https://www.sco-oc.org/holiday-adopt-a-family.
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An annual holiday bike drive to help children of all ages through various Orange County nonprofit organizations continues from noon to 4 p.m. daily through Saturday at the Great Park Neighborhoods warehouse at Irvine Boulevard and Pusan Way. Donations of new and gently used bicycles will be accepted.
On Saturday, Great Park Neighborhoods will present live music, food trucks, giveaways and more from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the warehouse to mark the end of the bike drive.
For more information, visit https://www.greatparkneighborhoods.com.
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The eighth annual Home for the Holidays pet adoption fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Irvine Animal Care Center will feature more than 500 animals available for adoption from about 40 shelters and rescue organizations. All the animals are spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped.
The fair also will include vendors, low-cost identification microchips, a silent auction, food trucks and a drawing.
Admission is $1. The Animal Care Center is at 6443 Oak Canyon Road.
For more information, call (949) 724-7740 or visit https://www.cityofirvine.org/cityhall/cs/animalcare.
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Newport Beach
The Child Guidance Center of Orange County will hold its annual Holiday Tree Fantasy from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Balboa Bay Resort, 1221 W. Coast Hwy.
The event will include professionally decorated trees, a raffle, gift baskets for auction, a gourmet lunch, a children’s area and entertainment. It raises funds for the center, which focuses on families dealing with child abuse.
Tickets are $125, or $65 for children. For more information, visit https://www.cgcoc.org/pr/holiday-tree-fantasy-2014.
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Holiday events and boutiques
Corona del Mar
The Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce will present its 36th annual Christmas Walk from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at 2855 E. Coast Hwy.
A strip of Coast Highway will be shut down for guests to eat, play games, hear music and participate in a drawing.
The free event will offer a visit from Santa Claus, a petting zoo, gingerbread, holiday bell carolers, and a beer and wine garden and barbecue.
For more information, visit https://www.cdmchamber.com.
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Costa Mesa
The horticultural department at Orange Coast College will host its 37th annual poinsettia sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday. Sale items will include individual plants, hanging baskets and 14-inch bowls priced from $5 to $40.
Enter the campus at the Adams Avenue entrance. For more information, visit occhorticulture.com.
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Crystal Cove
Deck the Cove, the annual tree lighting and gift bazaar at the Crystal Cove beach cottages, will be from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
The bazaar will feature local plein air art, holiday cards, handcrafted jewelry, ceramics and more. Santa Claus will arrive at 4 p.m., and the tree lighting ceremony will be at 5:15. Free apple cider, cocoa and cookies will be provided by The Beachcomber cafe.
For more information, visit https://www.crystalcovebeachcottages.com/calendar&tours.
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Irvine
The Jolly Holly Follies variety show, presented by the MenAlive gay men’s chorus, will feature holiday tunes at 8 p.m. Friday and 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive.
Tickets are $35 to $52. For more information, call (949) 854-4646 or visit thebarclay.org.
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Newport Beach
Christmas at the Beach comes to Balboa Village from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday with a tree-lighting ceremony, a performance by the Southern California Children’s Chorus, photos with Santa Claus, live entertainment, a winter-themed bounce house and animated movie characters. Explorocean will offer free admission to its learning centers. The tree lighting will be at 5:30 p.m. in the Palm Street parking lot.
Balboa Village is at 600 E. Bay Ave. For more information, visit balboavillage.com/event/christmas-beach.
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Newport Harbor High School will hold a holiday boutique from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the school’s small gym and courtyard.
More than 60 vendors will sell beauty products, home goods, clothing, children’s books, poinsettias and more. A Rock the Runway fashion show presented by Fashionomics and Toni & Guy will start at 12:30 p.m.
Admission is $3.
The event is organized by the PTA, and a portion of the proceeds and admission fees will go to student programs, scholarships and activities.
The school is at 600 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach. For more information, visit https://www.nhhsptaholidayboutique.com or call (818) 355-2976.
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The Island Hotel’s pastry chef, Andy de la Cruz, will offer children 5 and older a chance to create and decorate gingerbread houses to take home. The class will begin at 11 a.m. Dec. 13 at the hotel, 690 Newport Center Drive.
The cost is $75 per child. Parental supervision is required.
For reservations, call (949) 760-4920.