The California Highway Patrol is once again collecting toys for children in need as part of their “CHiPs for Kids” toy drive.
The annual drive is a statewide initiative that has given away millions of toys throughout California, and they couldn’t do it without donations from the community.
The CHP’s Morongo Basin station kicked off the 2024 toy drive with on Thursday night with an event in the parking lot of Walgreens in Yucca Valley.
Officer Mike Radford explained the origins of the event saying, “We are kicking off the Chips for Kids toy drive, a toy drive we do every year. It started 36 years ago, when some officers decided they wanted to help some kids in their area. It’s now been adopted throughout the state.
We’re kicking it off here at Walgreens, who has been a partner with us on this. And if you donate a toy, you can help a needy child here in the Morongo Basin. We’ve been doing it in our area for over ten years.
The officers will distribute these toys by hand, but we also work with other institutions like schools and the victims advocate from the District Attorney’s office. Anyone that knows of a child in need of toys is welcome to contact us.”
Officer Radford and several volunteers with the CHP were on hand Thursday to collect toys and share information about the program with the community. The first person to arrive and donate a toy was Susan Weston, who told me she was excited to help the community and support the CHP.
“I’m donating toys to the Highway Patrol,” said Weston. “I do it once a year. It’s a small thing I can do. I brought some stuffed animals, Barbie dolls, a train set, a little bit of everything. Try to figure out who might play with what. I don’t have kids of my own.”
Officer Radford described the importance of the annual toy drive, both to the CHP and himself personally.
“We get approximately a thousand toys a year in this area. We have a lot of volunteers that help us collect, sort, and plan to distribute the toys.
I have personally distributed toys on Christmas Eve and Christmas, at least ten different times. It is an absolute joy to make their day, their holiday season by giving them toys. A lot of these children aren’t receiving anything otherwise.
We’re happy to make a positive connection between children and law enforcement.”
If you want to be a part of the “CHiPs for Kids” program, you can donate a new, unwrapped gift for a child of any age.
Officer Radford said, “We will be collecting toys until December 22, at the Walgreens here, the CHP office in Joshua Tree.”
Anyone wishing to donate a new, unwrapped gift can do so at the Morongo Basin CHP Office, Walgreens and Copy Center Plus in Yucca Valley and Grocery Outlet, Copy Center Plus, Ace Hardware, Edchadas, Fans Grill, Grnd Sqrl, Happy Cooker, Wing-N-It and Cactus in 29 Palms. The last day to donate toys will be December 22nd.
