CHiPS For Kids Makes Holidays Special

MECCA – With sirens blaring, the California Highway Patrol cleared the way for Santa Claus to ride in to the Saul Martinez Elementary School in Mecca.

“We were so excited to see the children, their reaction. They were chanting, ‘Santa! Santa!’ so it was wonderful,” says principal Delia Alvarez

It’s part of Chips for Kids. A toy drive with the goal of providing toys for disadvantaged children. The California Highway Patrol office in Indio has done it for more than 16 years.

“This year we decided to go out to a school and originally I approached the principal Delia Alvarez and asked for a small number of people that we could help. Well, she pretty much related that there were a small number of people that did not need help so at that point we decided to help out the whole school,” says Ramon Perez with the California Highway Patrol.

“You can’t help but feel. There was so much emotion here today and the kids were so delighted, they were…I don’t think they even knew what was going on, it was happening so fast,” says Diana Marlo with Desert European Motorcars.

Santa and his helpers from the CHP, Desert European Motorcars andBMW of Palm Springs, passed out more than 1,100 toys to all the children.

Fifth grader Leslie Lopez is one of them. She says it makes her feel happy and very grateful that they gave toys to all of them.

“It is a feel good thing and hopefully people will see these types of stories and it will inspire them to go out and donate to other charities,” Perez says.