LANCASTER – California Highway Patrol officers and volunteers, Walgreens staff and BOB FM 103.9 representatives spent all day Thursday collecting donations for the local CHiPs for Kids Toy Drive.
The group volunteered their time for the daylong event, which ran from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in front of the Walgreens on the corner of 30th Street West and Avenue L in Lancaster.
“Our goal today is to raise 500 toys, and that will put us past the 2,000 mark,” said CHP officer Gil Hernandez. “The community has been very generous… very, very giving.”
The local CHiPs for Kids Toy Drive kicked off this past weekend with the goal of collecting 5,000 toys before Dec. 22 so that local children in need could have presents in time for Christmas. That goal has now increased, Hernandez said.
“Before we started the event, we had 11 [charity] organizations calling for assistance; now we’re up to 20. So the need has gotten a lot greater, and obviously our goal is to fulfill as many needs as we can,” Hernandez said.
All five Walgreens locations in the Antelope Valley have partnered with the California Highway Patrol to boost donations for the toy drive.
“Walgreens really wants to show that they like to give back as well,” said Store Manager Addie Beckett. “We’ve done CHiPs for Kids for a couple years now and it’s always been pretty successful… hopefully we can get more toys for the community and for the kids that aren’t as fortunate as others.”
Residents can help the CHiPs for Kids Toy Drive meet its goal by donating a new, unwrapped toy at the Walgreens at 2840 West Avenue L or at any of the Walgreens stores in the Antelope Valley.
CHP officers and representatives will volunteer their time again this Sunday, Dec. 7. There will be a CHiPs for Kids “Stuff-A-Bus” event with BOB FM 103.9, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Sam’s Club, located at 39940 10th St. W, Palmdale.
Additional CHiPs for Kids “Stuff-A-Bus” events will be held: Dec. 13 & 14, from 8 a.m.-8 p.m., at Walmart, 40130 10th Street W, Palmdale; Dec. 13 & 14, 8 a.m.-8 p.m., at Walmart, 44665 Valley Central Way, Lancaster; and Dec. 20 & 21, 8 a.m.-8 p.m., at Walmart, 40130 10th Street W, Palmdale.
Local families in need are asked to contact the CHP office at 661-948-8541 to be referred to a local charitable organization that benefits from the CHiPs for Kids Toy Drive.
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Lynn Hayes says
I think this is a wonderful thing to do for the children. I wish more people would get involved in helping the less fortunate.
Tracey Fields says
I am a low income family with 5 children in need of help with toys for my children. I am only financially able to pay our bills for our home. We reside in Palmdale CA
Tracey Fields
Tra58055@gmail.com
213-379-2584
Greg says
Local families in need are asked to contact the CHP office at 661-948-8541 to be referred to a local charitable organization that benefits from the CHiPs for Kids Toy Drive.