by Rick Topping
For the third year, the Rotary Club of Irvine Spectrum has been honored to participate in the Secret SANTA program at Camp Pendleton, California. The Secret SANTA (Support And Nurture Those Americans) program serves junior enlisted ranks (E-5 and below) with children. This Christmas program was created to facilitate community members’ appreciation of service while also providing assistance to the most junior ranks of our military.
The Service Member or spouse completes a wish list form, which is then filtered by the ASYMCA to provide the community member, organization, or business the family’s basic information, e.g. rank, unit, first names of spouse and children with each child’s age and wish list. Each family receives a Family Number,
More than 1,050 families were served this year and the Rotary Club of Irvine Spectrum was honored to support two families; Lance Corporal Stefan, his wife B8-year-old have a 12 year-old daughter and 8 year- old son. Corporal Jennifer and her husband Jacob. They have a 2.5 year-old son and a 1- month old son.
Each family asked for very little other than wanting to have their children enjoy Christmas. The ASYMCA and Marine Corps would rather see gifts but we provided each family with $720 so they could purchase what they determine is best for their family.
The gifts were carefully boxed and wrapped and delivered in a driving rainstorm, with care, by Rotary elves Albert Rosenstein and Rick Topping.
Thank you Irvine Spectrum Rotarians. Your generous giving, in tough times, will show two Marine families how much we honor and respect their service to our community.
