From the rubble comes a wish list : Children who lost it all ask community to help make their Christmas bright

[Rick]

SCOTT STEEPLETON, NEWS-PRESS ASSOCIATE EDITOR

December 9, 2008 6:57 AM

The holidays could look especially bleak to the children whose homes were destroyed in the Tea Fire. At Cold Spring School, where 16 families lost it all to the 1,940-acre blaze, parents are hoping to make some of those children's wishes come true.

"We're trying to get a Christmas present to every child who lost all their belongings," said Dina Barton, who chairs the Wish List Committee at the nearly 200-student campus.

"That group is 35 children," she said, including students and siblings.

"But when you look at all the families at our school who were affected, it's 30 percent of our student body," said Ms. Barton.

"It's kind of devastating for our little school."

To help children get past the anguish and have a merry little Christmas, Ms. Barton and the committee are looking for people who can satisfy a wish. For some kids, that means a stuffed animal, for others, anything from the Hello Kitty line.

Some children simply want books.

The list came straight from the children, when asked what present they'd want for Christmas.

The goal is to have the items in or at least pledged by Monday.

Ms. Barton, who has a third- grader and sixth-grader at the campus on Sycamore Canyon Road, is one of the lucky ones whose home was evacuated because of the fire but came through it undamaged.

"I came back and there was my house," she said.

Ever since, she and others have put many hours into making life a bit more bearable for those who were not so lucky.

"It's amazing the support we have," said Ms. Barton.

"There are a couple of parents that are therapists, and there are a couple of really wonderful counseling centers that have opened up to help families and children, whoever needs it."

Some parents come in to the school every morning to provide a free hot breakfast to children who have nothing; children in need are also getting free lunch.

In addition, the school's Dolphin Center has expanded its services to offer free after-school care.

"That's really nice while you're dealing with getting your life in order," said Ms. Barton.

Here's the Cold Spring School wish list:

• Fifth-grade girl: Mac laptop

• One family: TV (used OK, rear projection)

• Second-grade girl: books

• Third-grade girl: books

• Two sixth-grade girls: Mac laptop

• Fifth-grade boy: skateboard or pogo stick

• Young girl: Hello Kitty items

• Fourth-grade boy: RipStick

• One family: Wii game system

• Sixth-grade girl: GameCube game system

• Kindergarten girl: stuffed animals

• Sixth-grade girl: Wii game system

• Fifth-grade boy: Nintendo 64; Xbox 360 Pro game system

• Two third-grade girls: Boogie Boards

• Sixth-grade girl: Turquoise blue iPod nano

• Fourth-grade girl: Pink iPod nano

• 15-month-old: Fisher Price Little People (Animal Sounds or Learn About Town)

• One family: Lego Bionicle, "Star Wars" Legos, stuffed animals, books

• Seventh-grader: iPod

• Eighth-grader: laptop

• Fifth-grader: iPod

• Third-grader: iPod

• Kindergarten boy: iPod

If you want to purchase an item on the list or a gift card that can be used toward the purchase of a gift, contact Dina Barton at 895-1110 or [e-mail].

The Cold Spring School Wish List Committee is also seeking monetary donations to help students affected by the Tea Fire have a merry little Christmas. Checks should be made payable to Cold Spring School Parent Club (write "Wish List" in the memo portion) and mailed to 2243 Sycamore Canyon Road, Santa Barbara 93108.

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