Evictees Help Mexican Children

* Re “Their Yearly Mission of Merriment, Orange County Residents Trek to Tijuana,” Holiday Extra, Dec. 17:

There is another heartwarming tableau taking place south of the border. That’s when numerous American evictees will join the Punta Banda community, some 14 miles south of Ensenada, to distribute wrapped toys to elementary schoolchildren. It’s an annual event heralded by the arrival of Santa on a fire engine, also largely funded through American generosity.

Earlier this month, a fund-raising dinner to help the Christmas effort was attended by more than 100 persons. While the tradition of helping their Mexican neighbors goes on, it is especially poignant this year because many of the contributing American retirees are carrying heavy personal burdens of their own. They have lost everything.

Less than two months ago, they were forced out of their homes when police moved in to seize disputed beach property for former owners. Some had only a few minutes to pack up their belongings and now face a bleak holiday season and an uncertain future.

GILDA FEHR

Irvine