GIFT GIVING HITS HIGH GEAR; VOLUNTEERS MAKE HOLIDAYS BRIGHT.

Byline: Sharline Chiang and Peter Hartlaub / Daily News Staff Writers

While their friends were at the malls wrapping up Christmas shopping Saturday afternoon, a group of teen-agers from Sun Valley took time to wrap toys for needy children in the San Fernando Valley, including those in their own hometown.

Surrounded by the zipping sounds of packaging tape winding around cardboard boxes and the clank of canned food, students of Polytechnic High School were among scores of volunteers at MEND in Pacoima who came to help out at the charity group's annual Christmas giveaway program.

``I have a lot of friends who are poor, and it's sad to see them like that,'' said 14-year-old Norman Pineda. ``I wanted to help. It's good to help people who are less fortunate.''

Polytechnic students raised $2,000 since Thanksgiving to buy more than 600 new toys.

``We find it to be more important because we're giving back to our own community,'' Sandy Tobor, 17, said. ``It's a good feeling.''

Organizers of Meet Each Need with Dignity said about 700 volunteers helped put together this year's holiday giveaway. The program provides packages of toys, blankets and food to some 1,200 families in the Valley.

Among other toy drives that were scheduled in Los Angeles Saturday, 10 off-duty LAPD officers were set to leave Van Nuys Airport to bring gifts to children in Mexico.

At the LAPD's Hollenbeck Division, celebrities and politicians including Mayor Richard Riordan and Dodgers Manager Bill Russell handed out 10,000 toys.

Also on Saturday, Cardinal Roger Mahony blessed food, clothes, toys and the volunteers who delivered the items to needy families, while the Red Cross distributed toys to 2,000 children from low-income households in East Los Angeles.

The spirit of giving will continue today, when a Metrolink train decked out with 20,000 lights is set to roll into seven train stations in the San Fernando Valley and Ventura County, collecting toys for a drive sponsored by Southland firefighters. The train will play holiday music, and Santa will appear on the caboose.

The train will stop at 4:55 p.m. in Van Nuys, 7720 Van Nuys Boulevard; at 5:30 p.m. in Northridge, 8775 Wilbur Ave.; at 5:50 p.m. in Chatsworth, 21510 Devonshire St.; at 6:15 p.m. in Simi Valley, 5050 Los Angeles Ave.; at 6:45 p.m. in Moorpark, 300 High St.; at 7:15 p.m. in Camarillo, 30 Lewis Road; and at 7:55 p.m. in Oxnard, 201 E. Fourth St.

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2 Photos

PHOTO (1) Steve Hampar and his son, Matthew, 10, of Cub Scout Pack 139 help wrap up gifts at MEND in Pacoima on Saturday.

(2) Volunteers load boxes as part of MEND's annual Christmas giveaway program.

Phil McCarten/Daily News