Women spread cheer during holiday season

Wicker baskets? Extra ribbons? One too many cans of corn? Brenda Hagen wants it all. Throughout the year, Hagen and a group of friends all over the Conejo Valley are on the lookout for supplies to decorate baskets, and food and toys to fill them.

At Easter and Christmastime each year, the group, with Hagen at the helm, distributes baskets of goodies to seniors and children in need.

“She gathers baskets, picking them up at garage sales,” Marcia Brandon said. “She also collects children’s things and canned goods. She has stuff in her attic and at a storage space she rents.

“It’s a pretty altruistic thing she does, at great expense to herself.”

In March and December, Hagen hosts work parties. Some members of the group adorn the baskets with ribbons via glue guns while others pack them with gifts.

At Christmas, more than 150 baskets go to Senior Concerns to distribute through Meals on Wheels. Another 30, stuffed with children’s toys, are destined for a group of homes for disabled children in Simi Valley.

Cori Cashier, Hagen’s real estate assistant, has been a major player in the production for the last few years. It was her involvement that spawned the children’s arm of the project.

“I have a daughter in a wheelchair, and I recently had to place her in an assisted-living home,” Cashier said. “A lot of the children there don’t have a lot of involvement with families or parents. Their only income is a Social Security payment each month––the seniors, too.

“It’s nice to be able to help them out. It brings tears to your eyes when you see their excitement or joy. Some say they’ve never had anything like this before.”

Women from Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark and Simi Valley join with Hagen and Cashier to gather supplies, decorate the baskets or distribute.

“We work on it so long,” Hagen said. “There are so many people donating so many things and so many people who have gone above and beyond. More and more people are doing more and more things. The gals are just great.”

Cashier said that being in the real estate business has allowed them to meet a lot of residents who want to lend a hand.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it, and we have so many wonderful people that help us do it,” Cashier said. “We tell people we work with, mostly our clients, and they love to get involved. Being in real estate, we have a lot of people who are getting rid of things throughout the year. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be able to do it.”

“It’s growing beyond our belief,” she added. “It’s getting to the point where we need all the help we can get. It’s really taken off over the last few years.”

Brandon, who has been involved for the past three years, said the group’s dedication is outstanding. Hagen said she loves to see the smiles and happy tears, but deflects attention away from herself.

“People are just in awe,” Hagen said. “It’s very dramatic. But I just tell them that it’s Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny. I don’t want any kudos.”