For many, the Christmas holidays hardly seem possible without a list. There are gift lists, grocery lists, and card lists to name a few. The recent and untimely passing of Mara Cantelo makes necessary another holiday list relevant to thousands across our Morongo Basin. Reporter Mike Lipsitz pulls out his notepad…
Cantelo’s passing leaves in jeopardy the continuation of the annual Tender Loving Christmas, or TLC, event she spearheaded. Now, from a core group of volunteers a new holiday list has emerged. It’s a sort of action plan for producing the TLC holiday meal with a visit from Santa bearing toys for children. Far from a done deal, the action plan will remain little more than a wish list without solid commitment and support from the community. The plan calls for develop of a leadership team, a budget, a menu, solicitation of donations of money, prepared menu items, and toys, as well as event publicity and other tasks. With a near impossible timeline the group has set a meeting for motivated people this Friday, November 3 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Cholla Room at the Yucca Valley Community Center. At that time a decision will be made to either start checking off items on the list or throw it all away.
For more information contact Paul Hoffman at 760-365-1643 or [email protected]
