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For the last three decades, the Redwood City Police Department has worked to supply low-income community members with toys and books. This holiday season, the department’s efforts expanded.
For the first time since the idea took shape, the police department and 10 other local organizations united to execute a formal gift-giving day, instead of hand-delivering toy bags to families, according to a city press release.
On Dec. 20, public safety officials, first responders, community partners and volunteers congregated at Red Morton Park to distribute the gifts. As recipients arrived, there was a “decorated winter wonderland,” a hot chocolate station and personalized bags of toys, according to Diana Villegas, an administrative lieutenant for the police department.
“A lot of times, especially with the police department, there’s not always a positive interaction,” Villegas said. “It gives us an opportunity to really interact with the community members, especially the youth, in a more positive way.”
What started out as a few officers buying gifts and driving around on Christmas to distribute them to local kids has developed into a community-wide effort that served 510 families this year.
The donation drive lasted a month and was housed at fire stations, police facilities, partner businesses and other sites across the city, yielding 125 barrels of toys and books from 75 local businesses and residents.
Redwood City Fire Captain Chris Clow acknowledged that community members sometimes see emergency responders on “the worst day of their lives,” but said he appreciates that this event humanizes officers, revealing “the other part of what we do” to uplift the community.
