Cops treat thousands of kids, teens with toys

BARSTOW • When sirens blared in eight-year-old Sharai Andrade’s neighborhood on Saturday morning, Andrade knew exactly what to do: She woke up her younger sister, got their mother and rushed out the door.

Andrade knew that sirens mean police officers, and that officers — on the Saturday before Christmas this year — meant toys.

More than 200 volunteers spread holiday cheer by handing out toys during the Police Activities League’s 13th annual Christmas Cops and Kids program on Saturday, distributing over $30,000 in toys to thousands of children across Barstow, Hinkley, Daggett and Yermo, according to Sgt. Tim Heiden, executive director of the program. Volunteers from the Barstow Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Barstow Fire Department and San Bernadino Sheriff’s Department collected toys and raised money for several months, making possible the grin on Andrade’s face on Saturday as she clutched her new treasure — a Littlest Pet Shop set.

It was a mildly chaotic scene on the neighborhood streets, with children excitedly grabbing toys, robed parents watching from the sidewalks, and high school volunteers bursting into impromptu caroling.

This year’s Christmas Cops and Kids was dedicated to the memory of Miguel Flores, a 22-year-old Barstow man who was a fixture in the PAL community and had died on Dec. 8 in a car crash. The program began in Barstow over a decade ago as an event that allowed youth to interact with law enforcement officials in a positive setting.

Several volunteers who knew Flores and his family wore PAL Christmas shirts that included an image of the young man in the design.

Jeff Eason, Flores’ step-father and one of the organizers of Saturday’s massive gift-giving campaign, said that the death of Miguel prompted a huge community response, drawing over $10,000 in donations less than a week before the event.

On Saturday, caravans of toy-filled pickup trucks made stops at several neighborhoods, where volunteers gave out scooters, Tonka trucks, Barbie dolls, board games and a variety of balls, among other toys. Volunteers spread Flores’ memory by marking an “M” on the left hand of each child who received a toy. Every child also received candy canes and a coupon for a free personal pizza from Straw Hat Pizza, which Eason, also the owner of Straw Hat Pizza, donated to PAL.

Amid the busyness, Sgt. Bill Green of the CHP stood for a moment with Aileen Aguilar, the two admiring the six-year-old’s new toy pony set. The blue and pink set caught her eye and Aguilar happily said she would play with her new toys immediately.

Saturday was a first time experience for Green, who was reassigned by the CHP to Barstow in September.

“It’s a nice experience to give these kids an opportunity to get toys,” he said. “Especially with the economy today,” Green added, “it’s good to see smiles on their faces.”

Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4122 or elee@desertdispatch.com