Santa Clarita – Tuesday, December 7, 2004 from the hours of 5:00 p.m. –  

8:00 p.m. the community is invited to help kickoff the 15th Annual Santa  

Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Toy Drive at Power Honda located at 23551 Magic  

Mountain Parkway between San Fernando Road and Valencia Boulevard.

According to Deputy McCorkle, those donating toys should donate new,  

unwrapped toys of a $10 value or more for children between the ages of 3 – 12 years of age. There is also a special need for teen gifts as well, and it’s suggested movie tickets, gift cards for a book store or music store, and electronic games make appropriate gifts.

Those attending the toy drive kickoff, will be treated to a festival of sounds Junior High, Sierra Vista Junior High, Canyon High, Hart High, Santa Clarita Valley Christian School, and Grace Baptist Church. The event will be broadcast live by KHTS 1220 AM Radio.  

Santa Claus will arrive by patrol car to hear the special wishes of children

before he heads back to the North Pole to finalize Christmas preparations. 

Those in attendance will be treated to candy canes, hot chocolate and

coffee provided by the Newhall Coffee Roasting Company.

“While we live in an affluent community there are still families who can’t

afford holiday gifts for their kids, and that’s just who these gifts are

collected for,” said Deputy McCorkle, community relations officer for the

Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.  “Last year we collected over 2,000

toys and gave every one of them away. We live in a very generous

community and the need is great.”

“Families who have to do without are often in crisis around the holidays,” 

said Randy Cressall, owner of the Valencia AutoSpa, which has been a toy drive collection site for the past 8 years to assist the Sheriff Department.

“We know this year, there a number of families who have lost parents to

traffic accidents and un-timely deaths, who need the support of the toy

drive. Those dropping off toys to the Valencia AutoSpa will receive a free

car wash for their toy donation in our specialized toy drive campaign ‘Give A Little, Get A Little.’ ”

“We can’t conduct the toy drive without the help of the local business

 community who offer their places of business as toy collection sites,” < o:p>

 McCorkle said. “This year we have established a number of toy collection

 sites around the community including the Valencia AutoSpa, Power Honda, KHTS Radio,  Java ‘N Jazz, Fat Burger at both SCV locations, Western Bagel, Forrest Engineering in the SCV Industrial Center, and all three Realty Executive Real Estate offices located around Santa Clarita. Some of Santa’s helpers also include SCV Girl Scouts who also work hard to collect toys in each of their neighborhoods.”

For further information about the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Toy Drive or

attending Tuesday night’s event, one may call Deputy McCorkle at (661)

255-1121 or KHTS Radio at (661) 298-1220.