Santa took a detour from his usual route to bring presents to students at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Tuesday.
The LAPD’s Transit Services Division held a toy giveaway for students from local elementary schools, like John W. Mack Elementary School, in partnership with the Red Sled Santa Foundation and USC Kid Watch.
Carlos Tovar, an LAPD employee, said that he didn’t have community events like the toy drive when he was growing up.
“I, myself, and along with my partners, grew up within [the South L.A.] community, and it’s nice to see how much LAPD has evolved,” Tovar said.
Tovar added that occasions such as the toy drive portray the human side of the LAPD employees outside of their daily jobs.
He reminisced on his childhood by saying that he didn’t have the same opportunity growing up, and he wished he did. He added that opportunities like the toy drive help to build stronger connections within the community and have a long-lasting impact on the children involved.
“They are the future,” Tovar said.
110 elementary school students attended the toy drive. Initially, the organizers expected 180 students.
Fourth grade teacher, Jose Aranda, shared his excitement about the giveaway and said that the event was a cheerful celebration.
Aranda said that issues affecting the elementary school students right now – inflation and household issues – are daunting for them.
Aranda said that when his students heard about the field trip, and that they would be receiving gifts, they “absolutely were full of joy.”
At the toy drive, the students, one-by-one, approached the tables filled with toys like trucks, dolls and stuffed unicorns, and carefully chose the one that appealed to them the most. They walked away with big smiles and thanked the LAPD officers as they left.
The giveaway was meant to promote community service, the act of giving and spreading holiday joy to children from different schools.
Manuel Valdez, a program specialist for the USC University Relations department, said that he remembers events like the toy drive growing up.
“It might be insignificant sometimes, a little gift, but it goes a long way when it goes to supporting the local families,” he said.