• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Many Anticipating Fire, Police Toy Giveaways

Posted on: Saturday, 17 December 2005, 12:00 CST

By Kevin Garcia, The Brownsville Herald, Texas, The Brownsville Herald, Texas

Dec. 17--More than 17 hours before Santa Claus was even expected to arrive at the Brownsville Police Department, a group of about 30-plus had already formed a line at the door in anticipation for today's holiday toy giveaway.

First in line was 34-year-old Anna Ledezma, wrapped tightly in a Dora the Explorer blanket, who waited patiently for her family to arrive Friday evening at the Brownsville police station.

"My sister-in-law came last year, and there was a big line," she said, adding her children and her nieces will be joining her despite the chilly fall weather and biting rain.

"We are worried about the weather, but we're going to take turns and the kids aren't going to be here until 5 a.m.," she said.

Each December the BPD and the Brownsville Fire Department hold separate toy giveaways for economically disadvantaged children in Brownsville. Children who have toy vouchers from either department can receive their toys between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. from Santa from the police station or Dean Porter Park where the fire department will be set up.

"We do this to inspire the kids to bring up their Christmas spirit and to show them a positive image of the police," said Sgt. Jimmy Manrrique.

This is also a way to thank the community for supporting law enforcement and emergency workers, officials said.

"This is for the community," said Fire Chief Lenny Perez. "The best things are the smiles and the wonderment on their faces."

With the police expecting 4,500 children and the fire department prepared for 400 families, both agencies stressed that it doesn't matter where someone is in line, if a child has a ticket they will receive one of the gifts donated by area businesses.

"The ticket guarantees your kids will get toys," Perez said. "I wouldn't recommend (camping over night), especially if you have the kids out there. It's a cold night, and we worry about hypothermia."

Manrrique said toys are organized by age and gender, and disbursed at random.

"There's not going to be any preference as to who's first," he said, adding that some families see camping out as a Christmas tradition. "They like the anticipation of waiting."

That was true for 8-year-old Janet Herrera. While her parents watched, she played with her brothers, sisters and cousins. Herrera said she had fun at the police give away last year.

"We were all going in and out and we saw Santa Claus and they gave us toys," she said. "It was raining, but we played together."

kgarcia@brownsvilleherald.com

Brownsville Police Department Christmas for Kids

WHEN: 9 a.m., today

WHERE: Brownsville Police Department, 600 E. Jackson St.

Brownsville Fire Department Community Toy Give-Away

WHEN: 9 a.m., today

WHERE: Dean Porter Park by Gladys Porter Zoo

-----

Copyright (c) 2005, The Brownsville Herald, Texas

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

Source: The Brownsville Herald

More News in this Category