Mark Lane of Poppa’s Fresh Fish and Lalo Alcaraz of La Cucaracha organize holiday toy drive this Friday in Logan Heights
By Brent E. Beltrán
Once again restaurant owner Mark Lane, the accidental activist, has stepped forward to help not only refugee children but the children of deported American veterans and children of deported DREAMer moms as well. He will be hosting a toy drive and presentation on Friday night at Poppa’s Fresh Fish featuring former Lemon Grove native and syndicated cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz.
Lalo, the creator of La Cucaracha and Pocho.com and writer and consulting producer for the soon-to-be aired Fox cartoon Bordertown will be giving a thirty minute presentation about his cartoons and art and will follow with a book, poster and 2015 Cartoon Calendar signing.
“We chose to work with Lalo Alcaraz, as he has been a tireless fighter for immigrant rights, using his forum as a syndicated cartoonist to fight. He is a hometown hero in my opinion,” wrote fellow Lemon Grove native and resident Mark Lane.
Lane through his organization Poppa’s House, with the help of Border Angels, will be accepting new, unwrapped toys for refugee children in shelters here in San Diego, the US citizen children of deported DREAMer moms who are living in Tijuana, as well as for the children of deported US veterans.
“We are doing the toy drive as an effort to bring awareness of the situation that the deported veterans and deported DREAMer moms are in. Their children are staying in Tijuana with them, as the system breaks up families. These are US born children, citizens, whose lives have been disrupted because their parents who shed blood for our country and were honorably discharged, have been deported for minor crimes,” wrote organizer Lane.
He continues: “We decided to do a toy drive for the kids, we have a list of the kids and their ages (people tend to think of little kids only in toy drives, forgetting that there are teenage kids also in need), this way people can buy for a particular child and send them a little personalized note.”
In addition to the fine seafood at Poppa’s Fresh Fish, the presentation and signing there will be atole, champurrado and Chocolate Abuelita for everyone in attendance.
Big Poppa’s Cartoon Posada with Lalo Alcaraz takes place this Friday, December 19 at 5pm at Poppa’s Fresh Fish Company located at 3227 Ocean View Blvd in Logan Heights. The presentation is free and Lalo Alcaraz will have books, posters and calendars available for sale and signing.
Below is a list of children, and their ages, of deported veterans and DREAMer moms living in Tijuana. Please consider bringing a new, unwrapped toy. Feel free to include a personalized message.
Alex Murillo:
Athena Murillo – 8
Anna Murillo – 13
Angel Murillo (boy) – 16
Alex Murillo, Jr. – 17
Hector Barajas:
Liliana Barajas – 9
Oscar Leyva:
Maria – 2
Oscar – 3
Augie Garcia:
Yasmin – 3
Dania – 4
Tony – 9
Dina – 11
Andres De Leon:
Mathew – 7
Joseph – 12
Andrew – 14
Fabian Rebolledo:
Derek – 14
Mario De La Cruz:
Sujey (girl) – 6
Elissia – 7
Mario – 11
Kayla – 12
Michael – 12
Daniel Oyarzabal:
Two Girls ages 12 & 14
Ruben Robles:
Angelica – 2
Fisepe Vaval:
Jason Leclerc – 3
Manley Leclerc – 4
Jack Aviles:
Brittany – 6
Ivonne – 12
Richard Avila:
Christian – 8
Alex Castillo:
Anabelle – 2 months old
Moises – 1
Ashley – 3
Michelle – 4
Beve (girl) – 8
Yulie (girl) – 9
Maritza – 15
Maria:
Sophie – 3
Erik – 11
Hugo:
Melanie – 6
Gaba:
Gaba – 10
Brent E. Beltrán
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