Santa is coming back to Agoura

PRESENTS FOR THE HUNGRY--The annual Santa Comes to Agoura and Beyond food drive is gearing up for the holidays and will feed about 150 families this season. To participate, bring nonperishable food items to one of the designated drop- off spots or send a donation to Agoura Optimist, 6602 Maplegrove St., Oak Park, 61377. Their motto is simple: "It will all come together."

The organizers of Santa Comes to Agoura and Beyond speak from experience. The charity that organizes a food drive and then distributes the food to Conejo Valley families in need has been bringing their efforts--and those of the community--together for 27 years.

And that has a lot to do with leader George Annino, a New York native with an affinity for helping others.

Annino, who was born of Sicilian immigrants, said charity in some form has been offered by his family for more than 200 years.

"My grandkids will be the sixth generation," said Annino of his granddaughters Megan and Josephine. "When I was growing up, if someone was hungry, there was always a bowl of soup for them."

And despite the charity's wintry namesake, that goes for every month of the year. But when the holidays approach, the group kicks giving into high gear.

There is a food drive to put together at local schools, organization of the nonperishables, cans and grocery store scrip, and an incredibly orchestrated distribution day that involves more than 200 volunteers.

"The whole purpose is to help out those who are less fortunate," Annino said. "And I really feel like a big part of it is getting children involved and to pass it on.

"The committee really works hard and is dedicated to trying to make it fun."

The food drive is being hosted by local schools this week, and Boy Scouts will be collecting at Ralphs market in Agoura Hills and Albertson's in Calabasas from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sat., Nov. 18.

About 150 families will receive a turkey and 15 bags of groceries, along with grocery scrip for perishable goods. Organizers receive the names of the families by word of mouth. All recipients remain anonymous.

The distribution day has evolved into a community event, taking over the Do-it Center in Agoura on Dec. 2, beginning at 9 a.m. While grocery bags are packed and bused to families, children paint other's faces and area schools send students to sing. Two children lead a blessing over the food, one from the Jewish faith, the other representing Christianity.

The Sheriff's Department has donated helicopter time for Santa's arrival, and this year, an 8-year-old Oak Park boy battling leukemia will have a wish fulfilled when he is able to climb aboard.

The planning goes on all year, and the team of organizers, who seem more like college buddies than nonprofit board members, put their hearts and souls into making the food drive perfect.

"It's a lot of crazy, but it's a lot of fun," said Mary Jane McGraw, a veteran of the charity's organizational board.

Every year, despite full-time jobs and families of their own, more people want to help and more families receive assistance.

"I slowly but surely started doing more and more," said Suzy J. Cooper. "It's a great group of people to work with. Every year it gets better and better-really."

In addition to families, the group also delivers to battered women's shelters, a center for cerebral palsy patients, local food banks, Boys & Girls clubs and other organizations that help the underprivileged. Santa Comes to Agoura and Beyond isn't affiliated with a religious organization--it's just about helping people, Annino said.

Drop-off centers are located at the Postal Annex, First Federal Bank and the Do-it Center in Agoura Hills; Bean Scene in Oak Park; and Studio C & Spa in Thousand Oaks. Nonperishable food items will be accepted until Fri., Dec. 1. Donations may also be mailed to Agoura Optimist, 6602 Maplegrove St., Oak Park, CA 91377.