*There’s still time to donate new toys and gift cards for this year’s holiday event. There are two drop-off locations: You can leave donations with staff at the front desk of Police Services (corner of Darby and Prairie) through Saturday, December 13. You can also bring items to the Student Housing Office at 17950 Lassen Street, by Thursday, Dec. 18 at 5:00 p.m.*
For the past 14 years, officers and staff of CSUN’s Department of Police Services have carried out a beloved holiday tradition. It’s the annual Toy Giveaway — an event for the children in the Village Apartments, which is CSUN’s family housing for students, faculty and staff. It all starts in November, when organizers start collecting toys, puzzles, games and gift cards— many donated by DPS staff. It culminates in mid-December, when Santa pays an early visit to the apartment complex, and delivers the brightly-wrapped gifts.
Sergeant Michael Reyes started the effort in 2011 with his then-partner, Officer Rene Lino, who is now retired. Reyes is still a primary organizer of the event, purchasing and collecting holiday items for the kids, who range in age from infants to 18-year-olds. On the toy giveaway day, Reyes dons elf ears and accompanies Santa for his visit with the children.
Reyes said it all started when he and Officer Lino were both assigned to patrol campus housing. Reyes, who had been working at CSUN for just a few years at that point, said he wanted to put a personal stamp on his new mission.
“We were trying to make it our own, make it special,” Reyes said. “CHP, they have their toy drive. All these police departments, they have their toy drives and toy giveaways.” The idea, he said, was “‘Why don’t we give toys to these kids who live in the Village (Apartments)? Let’s involve them in the campus community.”
After the plan was approved, the two set up a toy donation box in the department lobby of the police station. The brightly decorated donation box has come out every year since.
Reyes, who is currently a patrol sergeant on the overnight shift, enlists the help of Police Services staff during slow periods to wrap gifts. Reyes also works with the office of Student Housing and Residential Life to coordinate the effort. This year, Reyes said, they have worked on collecting age-appropriate toys for about 40 children.
“All the newborns, the babies, they get a nice stuffed animal,” Reyes said. “For the older kids, from 15 to 18, we get gift cards, [to] Target, or what have you.”
For the day that the toys are distributed, Reyes said he likes to make it a festive affair.
“We listen to music, play with toys, build gingerbread houses, see Santa,” Reyes said. Parents can also get holiday photos with their kids.
The efforts behind the Toy Giveaway were honored at the annual Recognition of Excellence Awards in 2012, when its organizers were presented with the Jolene Koester Team Award.
Reyes, who is also the designated Police Services Department historian, clearly loves the holiday event, and said he’s watched many of the children grow up over the years of playing Santa’s elf.
“It’s just a good cause, a great feeling,” he said.
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