Jacqui Brown
The holiday spirit got a little brighter and a little more festive
around Burbank on Friday.
Burbank Sunrise Rotary Club members spent part of the day putting
up Christmas lights, wreaths and Christmas trees at the Burbank
Temporary Aid Center.
"We're also going to decorate the National Federation for the
Blind, the Burbank Center for the Retarded and the Salvation Army,"
club President Beth Anderson said.
"We hope to double that next year, because it's nice to bring a
little cheer to places that might not have this otherwise."
Although many of the decorations came from a business Anderson
once owned, she said club members donated much of what they were
using for this holiday project.
The decorations and artificial Christmas trees, adorned with
lights and ornaments, will remain at the sites so they can be reused
every year, Anderson said.
Dennis Sabin, of Eckerman- Heisman Funeral Service in Burbank, is
one of the club's newest members and seemed pleased to have a chance
to help out.
"I think this is an excellent opportunity to serve someone who's
been serving our community for a long time," Sabin said. "It'll
bring a little joy to everyone and it's fun."
Gary Clark said he started making calls a while ago when this
decorating idea struck him.
"Making plans for this was so much fun, and it felt so good when
they said we could do it," Clark said. "We could adapt this kind of
thing to all kinds of people in need."
BTAC Executive Director Barbara Howell has been there less than a
year, but has found events like this to be indicative of the Burbank
community.
"We're so focused at this time of year of just putting together
the food and holiday gifts for clients that come in," Howell said. "I
think this is really going to be nice, not just outwardly for those
who drop by, but just to help set a more festive mood for the
volunteers and staff."
It's an especially hectic time at the center now that their
Christmas campaign is underway. Holiday baskets with food and
presents are waiting to be picked up by clients and there's really
little time to do anything else, Howell said.
"It's something we would not have taken the time to do," Howell
said. "It's very nice."
