Good for the heart and the soul
Guest Opinion
By George Annino Special to The Acorn

The 28th Annual Santa Comes to Agoura and Beyond food drive on Dec. 1 was a huge success. Through the dedicated efforts of local schools, organizations and individuals many families who found themselves in need this holiday season were generously assisted. Volunteers from our community gathered that morning at the Agoura Do it Center to sort and bag a variety of nonperishable food and other items that had been collected over several weeks. The blessing of the food was given by Molly Siegel, who spoke in Hebrew, and Amanda Miuccio, who represented the Christian faith. Entertainment was provided by the chorus of Brookside Elementary School and the Agoura High School Charger Girls.

The food was then delivered to well over 100 families and organizations, demonstrating the true spirit of the holiday season.

We are grateful to all those who donated their labor, monetary generosity and other gifts: Malibu Pacific Insurance; the cities of Westlake Village, Calabasas and Agoura Hills; Agoura/Oak Park Chamber of Commerce; Kris Caraway Bowman of Los Robles Regional Medical Center; Joann and Stan Benson, Westlake Village Junior Women's Club; St. Maximilian Kolbe; Church of the Epiphany; Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints; Conejo Valley Community Church; St. Jude's School and CCD; Christian Church of the Hills; The Acorn newspapers; Don and Mary Liebman; Andi's Hallmark of Westlake Village; Under Armour; Party Max in Thousand Oaks; Ralph Testa of Golden Crown Marketing; and Gary Stines of Royal West Sales; French Marketplace of Westlake Village; Agoura Antique Mart; Decor Store of Westlake Village; Bath and Body Works; Jamie's Hair Salon and Day Spa; Law Firm of Philip Black; and Dr. James Iwanoff.

The entire staff of California Do-it Center and Patio World; Starbucks of Agoura Hills; Western Bagel and Bean Scene of Oak Park; Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts; Sandy Hernandez of the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District; Agoura Valley Women's Club; Agoura 4-H Club; GI Industries; Waste Management; Bill and B.J. Parisi of Bill's Home Service; Michael Shields; Dr. David Halpert; Dr. Lori Robinson; Shenita Taylor; John and Carol Preston; First Federal Bank of California; Money Wise; Born Learners; Don Zimring; Helene Summer Barial; Patty Wolfson; Trader Joe's of Camarillo, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village; and Capt. Tom Martin and Deputy Michael Woodard of the Lost Hills Sheriff's Station.

Also, these schools: Oak Park, Oaks Christian and Oak View high schools; Lindero Canyon and Medea Creek middle schools; and White Oak, Yerba Buena, Sumac, Willow, Lupin Hill, Oak Hills, Brookside and Red Oak elementary schools.

The following are some of the recipients of the 2007 Santa Comes to Agoura and Beyond Food Drive:

Battered Women and Children; Victims of AIDS; Children of the Night; Manna; service families at Point Magu Navy Base; the Veteran's Hospital; hospice; adults with cerebral palsy and Down's Syndrome; Children's Hospital; and City of Hope.

George and Charlotte Annino and family, the Agoura/Las Virgenes Optimist Club, Ann Houseal, Mary Jane McGraw, Steve Bonifede, Lynda Hoffman, Cindy Rushing, Mary Hendrix, Michelle Hanley, Patty Jo Wolfson, and John and Carol Preston wish everyone the happiest of holidays.