 |
| Marilyn Ibanez and Victoria Rodriguez of the Pomona Police Department look over stuffed animals collected by Cal Poly Pomona staff. The police department distributes the toys during its Santa Cop Toy Drive for needy families in Pomona. |
In the spirit of giving, Cal Poly Pomona's Staff Council collected more than 60 stuffed animals and nearly 100 pounds of canned goods for needy children and their families this holiday season.
Staff Council presented the Pomona Police Department with the stuffed animals at its annual Holiday Gathering on Dec. 10. The police department distributed the toys to needy families in Pomona during its Santa Cop Toy Drive.
“The partnership we have with Cal Poly Pomona really means a lot to us and to the community,” says Community Service Officer Brenda Sutherland, of the Pomona Police Department. “With the university's help, we were able to help about 400 families in need this year.”
“One woman we went out to give gifts to had just had a baby. She didn't work and they were just trying to make ends meet,” Sutherland recalls. “She walked up with her little baby in her arms and gave me a big hug and thanked us. She said this Christmas was not going to happen for her family because she and her husband couldn't buy toys for their children.”
The food donations were delivered to Kellogg Elementary School, a school the council adopted earlier this year by providing underprivileged children with school uniforms and other clothing.
Staff Council has collected toys, food and clothing for the Pomona Police Department and other community organizations, including House of Ruth, for more than 10 years.
?As a service organization, Staff Council believes it is important to give back to our surrounding community and it is our pleasure to help coordinate the collecting of toys, food and clothing from the generous members of the Cal Poly Pomona community,? says Staff Council president Barbara Argo.