Families get baskets full of holiday goodies

When more than 160 needy families heard the doorbell last week and found gift baskets full of toys, food and other goods, many of them had Newport Harbor High School students to thank.

All of that was part of “Basket of Miracles,” the program by Irvine-based charity Miracles for Kids, that assembled holiday baskets for families in time for Christmas throughout Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

Each basket held a whole chicken, eggs, vegetables, canned and dry goods, blankets, towels, toys and games. Of those toys, 500 were collected by Newport Harbor students, some of whom also wrote letters to patients at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County. Local businesses were also involved.

“The volunteers were incredible,” said Miracles for Kids Executive Director Autumn Strier. “They did everything from collect donations, to load and unload the warehouse, to drive trucks.”

— Michael Alexander