Something Wonderful looks to help families

Since 1994 MHCC staff, associated students and the greater East County community have been helping families live simpler and allow them to move onto the next phase of their life.

Something Wonderful is a program that allows the community to be assist families who are unable to afford winter clothes, holiday meals, and toys for children.

Many of these families are headed by women who have escaped an abusive relationship. These mothers are often left with nothing.

“MHCC and its surrounding community can come together and support those families are at most in need,” said Rich Duval, the committee chairman who has been involved with the giving project since its inception.

Families who wish to apply for help from Something Wonderful this holiday season should either contact Duval or Katrinia McNeal with Project YESS, or speak with their MHCC program director. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Nov. 9.

Duval has been working at MHCC for 27 years as the coordinator of Project YESS. The idea for Something Wonderful came from helping students who were coming to MHCC in order to re-educate themselves because of job loss.

“The economy plays a part. Families lose a job, so they come to re-educate themselves. We recognized a need, so it spread from there,” said Duval.

Duval said he is optimistic about the program. Last year was Something Wonderful’s best year to date.

Duval said they aimed to help 40 families in 2010 and they exceeded that goal.

“Out of the 74 families we helped last year, there were 18 departments and student clubs that adopted families,” Duval said.

For more information on how to become a sponsor, contact either Duval or McNeal with Project YESS. In order to help as many families as possible this year, Something Wonderful would like to sponsors to sign up by Nov. 21.

Sponsors will be able to look at profiles of families in need and decide which ones they want to help, they will also be supplied with a list of needs and a wish list of families.