Shops at Mission Viejo Celebrated by SoCal Safari

MISSION VIEJO, CA — The Shops at Mission Viejo were featured in a recent SoCal Safari broadcast. The shops take part in many Christmas events, including gathering toys for the annual Toys for Tots, which can be donated at guest services.

Need Christmas presents wrapped? The girl scouts of Orange County will also be gift wrapping at center court's lower level.

Finally, Make a Wish foundation will be sponsoring a charity ornament. Most of all, they served as the backdrop for a local broadcast of SoCal Safari, featuring Dana Point's Captain Dave and wife Gisele Anderson annually fundraise to feed Children around the world, as discussed recently with SoCal Safari.

The film by Captain Dave's Whale Watching "Wild Dolphins and Whales of Southern California" to raise funds to make a difference in the world.

The couple began by sponsoring a village in Malawi, according to Gisele.

"12 years ago, when Dave made his first film, he wanted to take half of the proceeds from the sale, and do something to make a difference in the world. The first thing we did was to sponsor a village in Malawi, Africa. They put the money we raised toward irrigation, shoes, schooling and even a latrine," she said. "It was very humbling to realize that made it to the top of someone's Christmas list."

Meals for those in need are the primary focus now, and the Andersons work with their local church to help pack meals for the hungry. Recently, 400 people at a local church worked to pack 100,000 meals in one day.

"Every year we do events for kids around the world," Captain Dave said. "The kids write notes while the adults pack meals, it's very personal."

"Over the years, we've been able to pack several hundred thousand meals," Giselle said.

Kids Around the World distributed the meals in Swaziland, according to Giselle.

"It might be one of the only meals they get for the week," Capt. Dave said. "There are a million ways people can give. Find something that works for your life that blesses others, and it will be a blessing to you."

You can watch the full episode at www.So-CalSafari.com by going to the EPISODES page. So-Cal Safari airs on Cox Channel 3, 4 and 8 throughout Southern California Monday through Friday at 10 pm and twice on Saturdays.

Songs byLi'l Dickens Carolers, with thanks to the Shops at Mission Viejo for on location filming at their Santa's Workshop. Youtube photo