Gary Moskowitz
MAGNOLIA PARK -- Janet Diel had to step back for a moment and wipe the
tears from her eyes after one particular phone call Saturday.
Diel, who joined hundreds of other Burbank residents in preparing and
delivering holiday gift packages to local families over the weekend,
called one child whose father had recently passed away.
For the young boy, who promised to leave the porch light on so the
delivery driver wouldn't miss his house, Saturday really was Christmas.
"There are some very touching moments when we deliver these packages,"
said Diel, assistant chairwoman of Burbank's annual holiday gift basket
event. "Even in a community like Burbank that we feel is so comfortable,
there are so many people so desperately in need. And it feels so good to
help and be helped."
Groups like the Salvation Army, the Burbank Temporary Aid Center, the
Burbank Coordinating Council, the Boys & Girls Club of Burbank, the
Burbank Historical Society, church and school groups, service clubs,
Burbank Boy Scout Troop 210, local firefighters and individuals
participated by sponsoring families in need with holiday baskets
containing food, food certificates, toys and clothing and delivered those
baskets to peoples' homes Saturday.
Event chairwoman Pat Gunn said the group had enough contributions to
also put together baskets for families that were not sponsored. This year
also saw a larger number of Burbank students who participated and stayed
longer than their school service hours required.
"We had people helping this year who had once been recipients and now
want to give back," Gunn said. "For some kids this is all they will
receive during the holidays.
"It was amazing. People came out of the woodwork to help, so this year
was a huge success."
More than 900 holiday baskets were delivered Saturday from the Boys &
Girls Club of Burbank, and more will be delivered early this week.
