For more than 30 years, the Cerritos Optimist Club has taken part in the ‘Needy Families’ program during the holiday season, and this year, the group is focused on helping 25 families from the city of Artesia who are truly in need of aid.

Optimist Club Member Ray Lovell has participated in the ‘Needy Families’ drive since 1989, but this year, with so many families struggling, the program may be more important than ever before.

While so many are cutting back on holiday spending, Lovell is still opening his wallet and literally passing the hat around to help those who are less fortunate. With help from the Cerritos Soroptimist Club, students at Gahr High School, and the Octagon Club from Cerritos High School, the Optimist Club hopes the community will generously open their hearts to help those less fortunate.

“This drive is to help these families through the whole holiday season,” said Lovell. “These are families that sometimes don’t have any food during many parts of the year, let alone toys or gifts, and we want to help brighten up their holidays.”

On Dec. 10 and 11 from 12-6 p.m., members of the Optimist Club along with Cerritos High's Octagon Club will be at the following three supermarket locations to collect canned and preserved foods, toys, and monetary donations:

• Dec. 10: Ralphs, located at 13321 South St. in Cerritos
• Dec. 10: Ralphs, located at 20137 Pioneer Blvd. in Lakewood 
• Dec. 11: Stater Bros, located at 11815 Artesia Blvd. in Artesia

“The families that participate are always very thankful,” said Jose Martinez, events coordinator at Artesia Parks and Recreation, who gives the Optimist Club a list of the families the department feels would most benefit from the program.

“They (the families) are just in awe every year; the Optimist Club always does a great job,” he added.

Once all donations are collected, they will be distributed to the needy families before or on Christmas Day.

Important Donation Information

• Please donate: Canned and preserved foods, toys, or monetary donations.
• Go to drop off sites December 10^th and 11^th
• Dec. 10 at Ralphs from 12-6 p.m. (South and Carmenita in Cerritos), and (Del Amo and Pioneer in Lakewood).
• Dec. 11 at Stater Bros from 12-6 p.m. (Artesia and Pioneer in Cerritos)
• Form more information on making a donation, contact Ray Lovell by email at rrlovell@hotmail.com.

Suggested foods

• Canned food, peanut butter, noodles, stuffing, mashed potatoes, flour, cake mix, jello, sugar, rice, spaghetti and other items that have a long shelf life.