The City of Costa Mesa and the Military Affairs Team have launched a Halloween candy collection drive for Marine families. 

The City will be collecting unopened individually wrapped candy to celebrate Halloween with the Marines of the First Battalion Fifth Marine Regiment and their families at Camp San Mateo for a trunk or treat event.

The collection point will be at the concierge desk in the Costa Mesa City Hall Lobby, 77 Fair Drive. 

Candy collection will last until Thursday Oct. 20. 

If individuals from the public are interested in participating or have questions about donations, please call Dan Baker at 714-754-5156 for additional information.

Once again, the City of Costa Mesa and the Costa Mesa Military Affairs team seek donations of “like new” prom dresses, ball gowns, cocktail dresses and accessories for the spouses of 1st Battalion, 5th Marines (1/5), the Camp Pendelton-based infantry battalion that the city has adopted.

The dresses will be worn at the annual Marine Ball, which takes place in October and celebrates the anniversary of the Marines Corps’ founding.

The collection point for the dresses will be the concierge desk in the lobby of City Hall at 77 Fair Drive. Donations will be accepted now through Sept. 10.

For further information, please contact Dan Baker at (714) 754-5156.

The Costa Mesa Military Affairs team, in support of the Costa Mesa City Council, relaunched its Military Banner Program on Monday July 11 in front of Costa Mesa City Hall.

To kick off to the program, 12 banners were installed along Fair Drive with language that reads “Costa Mesa supports the 1/5 Marines.”  The banners are in reference to the 1^St Battalion 5^th Marine Regiment unit that the City adopted in 2008 and currently supports.

The installation of the banners is designed to encourage support by the community and help to promote the City’s existing Military Banner program, which allows for Costa Mesa citizens to pay for and display a banner along Fair Drive that honors current family members who are active in the military.

The outpouring of support provided by our community through various events and activities brings funds for the troops and their families, evokes good will, inspires civic pride and patriotism, and is encouraging to the men and women of the battalion.

To make a donation or to enquire about supporting one or both programs, please send a check or contribution to the City of Costa Mesa. P.O. Box 1200, Costa Mesa, CA 92628-1200 and designate the gift for either the “1/5 Marine banner fund,” or the “Military Banner Fund.” To discuss contributions or take the steps to apply to have a banner installed to honor an active Military Family member please contact Dan Baker at (714) 754-5156 .

The city of Costa Mesa and the Costa Mesa Military Affairs Team are currently seeking donations of medium and large size plastic eggs, individually wrapped pieces of candy and small toys for the children of the City’s adopted 1st Battalion 5th Marine Regiment.

The collected candy and small toys will be used to stuff the plastic eggs for the children at the Marine unit’s annual Easter Egg Hunt held at Camp Pendleton.

Since the 1/5 Marines are deployed and will not be able to celebrate Easter with their families, the Easter Egg Hunt will help provide a festive event for the children.

Donations of age-appropriate small toys will be greatly appreciated. Suggestions for toy donations include yoyos, toy soldiers, ball and jacks, stickers, erasers and bling rings which will fit inside of plastic eggs.

The age groups this year are:
2 years and under
3 to 5 years
6 years and over

Donations can be dropped off at City Hall in the foot locker located in the lobby until Friday, March 18, 2016.

For further information, please contact Dan Baker in the CEO’s Office at (714) 754-5156.