thedrifter
08-27-07, 09:03 AM
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Bringing families together
A new program in S.J.C. connects Marines and their kids.
By HEATHER IGNATIN
The Orange County Register
San Juan Capistrano is undertaking a program that will give its adopted Marines – who are now stationed in Iraq – a chance to share story time with their children.
The goal is to connect members of the 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment with their kids through books. The Marines were deployed to Iraq during the first week in July.
"There is a lot of love attached to that," said Councilman Tom Hribar, a retired Marine Corps officer, who also sits on the city's Marine adoption committee. "I think this stuff is nice. It's a fabulous deal."
Organizers kick off the project Saturday and are asking for the community's help with donations of new or gently used children's books, blank DVDs and DVD mailing cases.
Here is how it works: Marines will record a DVD of themselves reading a story to their children, then mail it back home. The children then will view it at bedtime, just like their parent is there, officials said.
The 1/11 became part of the city's extended family last September. In June, the city held a gigantic send-off picnic. In December, San Juan is planning to host Marine wives and children at a luncheon, as part of the city's holiday celebration, Hribar said.
Donations toward the reading program can be dropped off at bins at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto and the Community Center, 25925 Camino del Avion. The drive will run from Saturday to Nov. 1. For more information, contact Cathy Salcedo at 949-443-6317 or csalcedo@sanjuancapistrano.org.
Contact the writer: 949-454-7335 or hignatin@ocregister.com
Ellie
Bringing families together
A new program in S.J.C. connects Marines and their kids.
By HEATHER IGNATIN
The Orange County Register
San Juan Capistrano is undertaking a program that will give its adopted Marines – who are now stationed in Iraq – a chance to share story time with their children.
The goal is to connect members of the 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment with their kids through books. The Marines were deployed to Iraq during the first week in July.
"There is a lot of love attached to that," said Councilman Tom Hribar, a retired Marine Corps officer, who also sits on the city's Marine adoption committee. "I think this stuff is nice. It's a fabulous deal."
Organizers kick off the project Saturday and are asking for the community's help with donations of new or gently used children's books, blank DVDs and DVD mailing cases.
Here is how it works: Marines will record a DVD of themselves reading a story to their children, then mail it back home. The children then will view it at bedtime, just like their parent is there, officials said.
The 1/11 became part of the city's extended family last September. In June, the city held a gigantic send-off picnic. In December, San Juan is planning to host Marine wives and children at a luncheon, as part of the city's holiday celebration, Hribar said.
Donations toward the reading program can be dropped off at bins at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto and the Community Center, 25925 Camino del Avion. The drive will run from Saturday to Nov. 1. For more information, contact Cathy Salcedo at 949-443-6317 or csalcedo@sanjuancapistrano.org.
Contact the writer: 949-454-7335 or hignatin@ocregister.com
Ellie