Tree festival helps children

Local volunteers from the Buena Ventura Childhelp Chapter will present the annual Festival of Trees Sun., Dec. 7 to fund their efforts to take care of 85 children who have been removed from their families.

Childhelp is a nonprofit group organized to meet the physical, emotional, educational and spiritual needs of abused, neglected and at-risk children. The Buena Ventura chapter focuses on advocacy, prevention, treatment and community outreach.

Publicity chair Jan Ancker learned firsthand how important a helping hand is to children who have been removed from their homes when she, her husband and their young children welcomed a 16-year-old orphaned girl into their family years ago.

"Helping children who are out there with no place to go is a rewarding experience," Ancker said.

She said her foster daughter is now married and has children of her own. These days Ancker helps by letting people know about events the local Childhelp is sponsoring and by welcoming new members.

At the Dec. 7 event, 20 to 30 decorated artificial Christmas trees will be auctioned off. In the past, themes included dogs, golf, ballet and Las Vegas, Ancker said.

Handmade items and baked goods will also be offered for sale, and musical entertainment will be provided by a singer and a pianist.

The Festival of Trees will begin at 10:30 a.m. followed by lunch at 12:30 p.m. at Lake Sherwood Country Club. Tickets are $100 to $150 each. Reservations are required by Nov. 21 by calling Ancker at (818) 707-6244.

Childhelp provides a 24-hour, seven days a week hotline to help prevent child abuse. The anonymous and confidential number — (800) 422-4453—is answered by professional crisis counselors.