PALMDALE – The California Highway Patrol is counting on Valley residents to help make Christmas special for underprivileged children.
“We’re asking for your generosity,” said CHP Officer Gilberto Hernandez. “It will put a smile on a child’s face this holiday.”
Hernandez, CHP Captain Steve Urrea, and Junior Miss Antelope Valley Tori Gonzales were at Sam’s Club in Palmdale Thursday morning encouraging residents to take part in the annual CHiPS for Kids Toy Drive.
Now in its 25th year, CHiPS for Kids is an annual effort by the California Highway Patrol to collect toys from the community and distribute them to underprivileged children for Christmas.
“For some of these kids, this may be the only Christmas toys that they get this year,” said Urrea.
“Just to put a smile on their face and give them hope for the New Year will be a great thing to do,” said Gonzales.
Donating to CHiPS for Kids is especially important this year, because requests for toys have more than doubled, Urrea said.
“Last year we had six organizations request toys from us, this year we’ve had 14,” Urrea said. “We’re going to try to reach out to as many organizations as we can to provide them with as many toys as we can, but we’re only as successful as the people in the community.”
Supporting CHiPS for Kids is easy. Just bring a new, unwrapped toy to any CHP station or drop-off site by December 23, 2012.
Drop-off sites in the Antelope Valley include:
- Crazy Otto’s (The restaurant is offering a free giant pancake to any customer who donates an unwrapped toy)
- Camacho Auto Sales
- Walgreens
- The Antelope Valley Mall
- Sam’s Club
- Walmart
On Sunday, December 16, from 4 to 9 p.m., CHP Officers will be at the Walmarts on Valley Central Way in Lancaster and on 10th Street West in Palmdale in support of the CHiPS for Kids Toy Drive.
“We’re gonna try and fill up a school bus with toys,” said Hernandez, adding that the school bus will be at the Palmdale Walmart.
“If you’re doing any shopping out in the Antelope Valley, either in the Walmart in Lancaster or the Palmdale’s Sam’s Club or Walmart, feel free to stop by and drop anything off for the kids that are not going to be able to have a present,” said Walmart Store Manager Trent Blankensip. “We appreciate your help this holiday.”
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Toni Williams says
Hi my name is Toni Williams.
I live in Arcadia. CA. I need help.
Could you please help me get gifts for 80 kids?
I teach Bible lessons to needy kids in after school club and in at a Wed. night Bible Study. Most of the kids come from low-income families.
I just small gifts for boys and girls in grade K-5th grade.
Next week is our Christmas Party. I do not have a job…and just want to bless them. I do not even have money to help my own family or even provide food for Christmas dinner. My mom just got out of the hospital.
We could use some Christmas cheer. …and I just want to give some cheer to these kids. I just want to cry because I feel like I am begging.
I do not want to show up next week without something to give them.
I appreciate your help. My ministry I serve in is called Child Evangelism.
The kids are nice and every week they come to hear about God. …I just do not have anything to give them. I do not want to come empty handed.
Thank you for any thing you could do….I really need just 80 nice gifts
of whatever you can give me…Bible books. cars or dolls for girls.
anything!!
Thank you and God bless you.
I live in Arcadia CA.
My email is babycat@roadrunner.com..Thanks for your help
the Bible says….Ask and you shall recieve….I am just stepping out in faith to ask…and will see what God will do.
RuthAnn Chavez says
Hi I was wondering how you pick the children to pass out toys to? My sister has 5 daughters from the ages of 17 to 4 years. Shes having a hard time and doesnt have a job. Therefore wont be able to buy gifts for her girls. To be considered would be awesome and make at least the youngest smile. Thank you for taking the time for reading my mail.