PERRIS – Santa arrived early putting wide smiles on five thousand Val Verde elementary school students and their parents on Saturday, as they each received gifts during the 5th Annual Chiefs Toy Chest
Held on the campus of Val Verde High School, the event is organized by the VVUSD Police Department, brightening the holidays for the elementary school children.
Police Department spokesman Max Garcia said his department, “is all about helping and supporting our Val Verde community.” Santa Claus was on hand to distribute gifts, along with officers, Explorer scouts, agency support personnel and representatives from some of the 13 schools whose students received the presents.
“We’ll be giving out Barbie’s, Hot Wheels, sports gear, Match Box cars, Play-Doh — just a whole range of things for kids,” Garcia added.
All of the schools had Christmas-themed booths, providing the setting to pose with Santa before retrieving their free toy. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary School was awarded a pizza party for designing the most creative booth.
The event was made possible via donations from police personnel, community groups and residents.
The school district spans the north end of Perris, south end of Moreno Valley and a portion of unincorporated Riverside County, with a total enrollment of roughly 20,000.