SAN DIEGO — Fifty-three local Catholic parishes and schools donated some of the Halloween candy their youth received to make Christmas merrier for poor children in Tijuana.
The candy was to be included in the annual Christmas food distribution that benefits about 1,700 impoverished families at Casa de los Pobres in Tijuana.
This year’s candy collection yielded 3,550 quart-size bags, or 1.78 tons of candy. Along with additional boxes of candy, the collection also resulted in 16 boxes of dental supplies, 11 boxes of food items, a box of toys, and a box of new blankets.
Since 2006, the Notre Dame Club of San Diego has helped St. Brigid parishioner Caroline Kelner with the annual candy collection.
About 70 volunteers gathered in the backyard of Kelner’s home Nov. 20, working in shifts to sort and package the candy. The donations were transported to Casa de los Pobres on Nov. 22 and 23.
