Donate to CHP, LASD toy drives

ANTELOPE VALLEY – The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the California Highway Patrol are calling on residents to inspire a child’s holiday by joining the tradition of gift-giving this season.

Each year, tens of thousands of toys are donated by employees and volunteers of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to children and families in need during the holidays. They are given to children who attend schools adopted by their local sheriff’s stations and to children of members of the United Stated Armed Forces serving overseas.

You can participate in this tradition by donating a new, unwrapped toy, which has a value of at least $10 and is appropriate for children between the ages of one and 16 years old.

Bring your thoughtful toys to any sheriff’s patrol station and leave them in the clearly-marked bins, located in the lobbies. Patrol stations are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The sheriff’s department is asking that donations be made prior to Saturday, December 15, so they may be organized and distributed in time. However, the department will gladly accept toys right up to Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24.

The California Highway Patrol’s annual CHiP’s for Kids Toy Drive is also under way and will go through December 23, 2012.

CHP officers will be collecting toys at different locations throughout the toy drive, including the Antelope Valley Mall, Sam’s Club and all local Walgreens drug stores.

CHP will also have toy drop off sites at Crazy Otto’s, Red Robin and Camacho Auto Sales. Crazy Otto’s will be offering a free Monster Pancake to everyone that brings an unwrapped new toy to any of their five locations.

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