December 23, 1999

The Christmas Spirit Shines Through With LULAC Christmas Baskets

By Daniel Muñoz

For the LULAC membership, the Christmas season doesn't officially begin until the annual Christmas brunch is underway.


For members of LULAC, the Christmas season doesn’t officially begin until the LULAC Christmas brunch. Sitting at the head of the table and kicking off the season is Tom Martinez with his wife Pearl (clockwise), Helen Steel (standing), Veronika Muñoz, Carla Dolores, Lydia Muñoz, and Marilu and Keith Terpe (visiting from Puerto Rico.)

Held the second week of December, the brunch signifies the completion of a year's worth of collecting, organizing and preparing for their annual food basket giveaway. The LULACers joyful celebrate another year of being able to provide for those less fortunate. The spirit of the season awashes across the gathered members.

There is now just one job left and that is the actual packing of all the foodstuffs gathered. Enthusiastic and prepared to tackle the task of packing and distributing 250 food baskets the members of LULAC gathered at the National Guard 2nd Bn, 185th Armor, in National City to complete the task on Friday, December 17th.

The Guard opened the doors at 7 am and under the supervision of Helen Steel, they began the work of sorting, arranging, separating, stacking, unpacking, generally preparing for an organized assault by the LULAC members. It must be said at this point that the effort and support provided by the Guard was invaluable.


LULAC member Joe Lerma, with the help of these young ladies, packs cabbage, zucchinis, celery and cucumbers.

At 5 p.m the LULAC members showed up, students from the local high schools, a couple of students came from Rancho Bernardo High, and LULAC president Bea Estrada put them to work.

Canned foods were stacked according to types, soups on one table, vegetables on another, etc. Fresh vegetables were in one corner of Armory, fruits in another. Laying against one wall were the sacks and sacks of beans and rice. The fresh meats were stored in the coolers.

As each new group of individuals came in they pitched in wherever they were most needed. Some packed beans into 5 pound bags, others separated vegetables (people tended to avoid the onions, you smelled like onions for hours), meanwhile still others packed bags with the fresh vegetables.

Once everything was ready, then began the packing of the baskets. A bag of beans, rice, vegetables, canned goods and so it went until all the food was distributed and the baskets were ready to go.

The baskets were filled only because of the generous contributions by many individuals and stores. Some of these included Pacific Bell, Men's Warehouse, San Diego Produce, U.S. Forestry Dept., Coast Distributing Co., Smart & Final, Chula Vista, Community Health Group, Radio Latina, Cabrillo Broadcasting Co., and Scripps Marketing Dept., Telephone Nurse Consultants

The baskets were brimming with food thanks to these wonderful people and business and now all that was left was the distribution of 250 baskets.


LULAC president and food basket organizer, Bea Estrada shares a moment with Veronika Muñoz, teacher at Lillian J. Rice Elementary School.

Organizations that received baskets were: C.I.T.Y. Program, ARC of San Diego, American Indian Health Clinic, Logan Heights Family Health Clinic, Child Protective Services, Project Safehouse, and Elder Help.

For those families that received baskets, not only did they received food there were also presents for the children, after all these were Christmas baskets. These special presents were made possible by the American Legion Post #6 and #434 and American Legion - 22nd District, who under the direction of Annmarie Brown provide the toys. Also contributing to the toy drive was the San Diego Padres Baseball Club who contributed posters, bags and other delightful items that any fan would have been happy to get.

There were individual contributors that helped that make this year's basket program a success, the included: Jonathon McCue, Sally and Cliff Lowery, Cmdr Tom Lamb, Jr., Sally and Emeterio Ramirez, and Thomas and Pearl Martinez.

And so, another successful year of helping others have a healthy and fun Christmas. For the LULAC members they can enjoy the season knowing that they, once again, have taken the spirit of Christmas to heart and have earned a hand for a job well done.

But the LULACers can't rest too long. Once the new year starts they have to continue on with their preparations for the annual scholarship program in July. The work of LULAC is never done.

Return to Frontpage