St. Vincent de Paul of Los Angeles and the California Highway Patrol powered up some holiday smiles at the CHiPs For Kids annual toy giveaway

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Los Angeles and the California Highway Patrol teamed up for the 27th Annual CHiPs For Kids Toy Giveaway for needy children on Saturday, December 12, 2015. While police and community tensions have run high this year, local CHP officers wanted to remind Angelenos that they care deeply about the community they serve, especially during the holidays when all families should have food on the table and presents under the tree.

“We want kids to know that police officers aren’t the enemy,” said CHP Public Information Officer Edgar Figueroa, a sworn police officer. “We would much rather save a life, keep our community safe and bring happy smiles to children this holiday season.”

This year, families lined up around the block to receive toys, food and shoes for this holiday season. Approximately 951 toys, and 951 pairs of shoes were distributed to families, as well as 500 bags of food. It was a festive holiday event, and the Set Decorators Society of America attended the event and decorated the St. Vincent de Paul of Los Angeles Thrift Store windows and created a winter wonderland that would rival any major department store, including an actual sleigh for kids to sit on and a gigantic mailbox that accepted letters for Santa Claus.

 The event could not have happened without the generous support and donations of the CHP, CBS/KCAL, Shoe Palace, Allen Lund Trucking, Navidad En El Barrio and the Set Decorators Society of America.