The holiday season presents the perfect opportunity to share with others. 

By Mary O’KEEFE

There are several organizations reaching out to local communities to help those in need have holidays that are a little brighter.

Los Angeles Sheriffs Dept.-Crescenta Valley Station – Traditionally, Crescenta Valley Station volunteers and community lead Deputy Maryann Martin place donation bins throughout the community to collect food and toys for local families. They then invite those families to CV Park where LA County Parks and Recreation partners with LASD volunteers and personnel. Families with children walk through an outdoor shopping area where they choose toys, families are given groceries and children get to visit and have a photo taken with Santa.

Last year, due to the pandemic, staff and volunteers could only quietly support local families in need. This year, Martin said, an event at CV Park will again not be held but the station is still collecting food and toys.

“We have had some families [reach out] here,” Martin said.

There are donation bins at some local businesses and churches and at the CV Sheriff’s Station. The food collected is being shared with some local families and to support the Bailey Center in Tujunga.

Anyone who would like to donate, or anyone in need of support, can contact Dep. Martin at (818) 248-3464.

California Highway Patrol-CHiPs for Kids – CHiPs for Kids is a toy drive sponsored by the California Highway Patrol. It is looking for new, unwrapped toys for children of all ages. The toys are donated to families in need in the area covered by the Altadena CHP office.

“Officially, we start [the campaign] the day after Thanksgiving and it runs through Dec. 19,” said CHP Officer Vince Ramirez.

Officers were recently at the Glendale Galleria and will be there again where people can drop off unwrapped, new toys.

“We work with several organizations,” Ramirez said.

He added that the bulk of the toys received are for younger children and what is needed are toys for kids 10-to-17 years old.

“We need footballs, gift cards and [or] any sporting goods,” he said. “[Those] are the best.”

CHP works with community organizations throughout the area to find those in need. Their partners include CBS and KCAL 9. CHP has also partnered with Walgreens where those who wish to donate can drop toys off at any of the pharmacies.

Toys can be also be donated at the CHP station at 2130 N. Windsor Ave. in Altadena. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The last date to make a donation is Dec. 20.

Glendale Police Department – Cops for Kids – Each year the Glendale Police Dept. and Glendale Police Officers Association adopt families to make their holidays magical.

Glendale officers, volunteers and staff gather names of families throughout the year. They first deliver Christmas trees to the families then collect toys. This year they will have a traditional delivery night. This is an incredibly special event when Glendale officers show up with toys for kids and then spend time talking to the kids about their holiday wishes.

When organizer Amy Tate discovers there is a family member who may need a little extra holiday help they will go that extra mile to make certain the entire family benefits.

Food and toy donations are needed as are gift cards. Like CHP, GPD has found that the most difficult age to buy for are for pre-teens and teenagers. Gift cards are the perfect choice for those who would like to donate; donors are asked to please bring an unwrapped toy to one of these locations: Glendale Police Dept. Lobby, 131 N. Isabel St., Glendale; Bank of America, 203 N. Glendale Ave., Glendale; Glendale Federal Credit Union, 500 E. Wilson Ave., Glendale; Nova Market & Catering, 901 W. Glenoaks Blvd., Glendale; Trumark Real Estate Management & Services, 320 Arden Ave. #110, Glendale; Abri Dental – 3808 Riverside Dr. Suite #501, Glendale; Coldwell Banker, 1625 W. Glenoaks Blvd., Glendale; Green California Dental Group, 1822 W Burbank Blvd., Burbank.

For more information, contact Amy Tate at (818) 548-3136.

Glendale, LA County, LA City and Burbank fire departments – ABC 7 Spark of Love –This toy drive offers many ways to donate via local fire departments throughout Southern California. There are several locations and ways to donate new, unwrapped toys. In Glendale, donate via credit card by visiting http://calfund.org/abc7-firefighters-spark-of-love-toy-drive-fund or drop toys off at any Glendale fire station.

LA County – Drop off new, unwrapped toys or sports equipment at any local fire station. To virtually donate text “SPARK” to 24365, or donate online at https://supportlafd.kindful.com.

Please: no toy weapons [i.e. guns, knives, light sabers, etc.], glass products, liquids or toiletries [i.e. fragrances, nail polish, etc.].

For more information, call (213) 420-1500 or email SparkOfLove@fire.lacounty.gov.

LA City – To make sure no deserving child goes without a gift this holiday season, LA City Fire Depts. have developed an easy-to-use system that delivers items chosen directly to Toy Central for rapid processing and timely holiday delivery:

• Select an item at: https://myregistry.com/giftlist/sparkoflove
• Using a smartphone? Text the word “SPARK” to 24365. An instant reply will provide a link to browse and shop at the donor’s convenience.
• Donate via credit card at: https://supportlafd.kindful.com. Select ‘Spark of Love’ and donate any amount.

LA City Fire Dept. also said that this year attempting to bring a donated toy to an LA City fire station could delay its timely distribution. Instead, donors are asked to use one of the ways mentioned above to donate.

Burbank: To buy a toy go to myregstry.com/giftlist/sparkoflove or text to give by texting “TOY” to (310) 929-6907 or donate online at https://supportlafd.kindful.com.

Toys can also be dropped off at Family Service Agency of Burbank, 2721 W. Burbank Blvd. in Burbank.

For information, email fsaburbank@gmail.com or call (818) 845-7671.

Bailey Center – The Bailey Center food pantry at Tujunga United Methodist Church continues to see a growing number of people in need come to the center every Wednesday. The Bailey Center now feeds well over 1,000 individuals per week.

The Center needs a variety of food including donations of cereal, pasta noodles and pasta sauce as well as any non-perishable canned goods. People can also donate cash or grocery store gift cards.

Donations can be dropped off at the Bailey Center at Tujunga United Methodist Church, 9901 Tujunga Canyon Blvd., Tujunga on Wednesdays between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Donations can also be dropped off at the office of CV Weekly, 3800 La Crescenta Ave. Ste. 206, Glendale/La Crescenta. For more information, email mo5966@sbcglobal.net or call CVW at (818) 248-2740.

Gelson’s Grocery Stores – Gelson’s customers are encouraged to take part in the company’s annual toy drive this December and donate a toy to a child in need. The toy drive will benefit disadvantaged children throughout the region and will take place at all 27 Gelson’s stores as well as internally at the corporate office and warehouse.

Returning partner organizations for the toy drive include: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center, Toys for Tots, Promises 2 Kids, Miracles for Kids and Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital, Long Beach. In keeping with tradition, Gelson’s employees will be personally delivering some of the toys continuing to follow all COVID-19 rules and guidelines.

The toy containers at Gelson’s stores will be designated red bins or branded containers provided by the partner organizations. Donation bins will be located at local Gelson’s locations December 1-19. Customers can request a list of suggested donations from their storefront desk or at gelsons.com. Some partner organizations are requesting online donations; check their sites for more information.