Palomar College campus police act as Santa's helpers

By: NOELLE IBRAHIM - Staff Writer
Toys to be distributed at holiday party Friday | Wednesday, December 12, 2007 11:09 PM PST ∞

SAN MARCOS -- The Palomar College Police Department is wrapping up its work as Santa's helpers this week to brighten up the holiday season.

Since Nov. 26, campus police have been collecting stuffed animals, boom boxes, scooters and other presents during their fifth annual toy drive.

"During the Christmas season, no one wants to see kids hurt or go without," said Palomar police Officer Brian Herritt, who is helping coordinate the toy drive. "You become a police officer to help people."

Herritt said the department has collected about 250 toys, a turnout that exceeded his expectations, especially with other toy drives and fire relief efforts in the community.

"The entire community has come together to make sure these kids have a good Christmas," he said, though the department is still looking for donations. "We're in our final push."

The department spread gift-wrapped donation boxes throughout the busiest areas of campus, including the student services center and Escondido and San Marcos campus police offices. Donations can also be made at the kiosk at the main entryway of the San Marcos campus.

"People can literally pull up and drop off a toy (from their car)," he said.

This year, the toys will mainly benefit children of low-income, educationally disadvantaged Palomar students in Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOP&S). The state-funded program supports roughly 1,300 students each year who are completing their postsecondary education as a means toward self-sufficiency, said Anel Gonzalez, outreach assistant for the program.

Students in the program are generally the college's lowest income students, said Gonzalez. For a lot of their children, this may be the only present they get, she said.

"Because of the fires, a lot of our end-of-the-year donations were low, so we were scared we weren't going to be able to meet our demand," Gonzalez said, referring to wildfires in late October that swept through much of the county.

"It's a miracle that campus police chose us as their No. 1 priority," he said.

The toys will be distributed Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. inside the student union during a holiday celebration featuring food, holiday music and reindeer games. Each child will receive a wrapped toy and a Polaroid photo with Santa.

"It's a time where families can just have fun," said Gonzalez.

About 130 children of EOP&S students are expected to take part in the festivities.

"To see the smiles on kids' faces, that makes it all worthwhile," said Herritt.

To make a monetary donation, send a check payable to the Palomar College Foundation, Attn: Police Toy Drive, 1140 W. Mission Road, San Marcos, CA 92069.

For more information, contact Herritt at (760) 744-1150, Ext. 2289

-- Contact staff writer Noelle Ibrahim at (760) 740-3517 or nibrahim@nctimes.com.