GIRL'S KINDNESS GIVES CHP TOY DRIVE BIG LIFT.

Byline: Stacy Brown Daily News Staff Writer

With 9-year-old Teresa Martin leading the way Friday, California Highway Patrol officers gave out gifts to children at three Head Start preschools in the Santa Clarita Valley.

As part of the CHiPs for Kids Toy Drive, officers passed out goodies to more than 90 underprivileged preschoolers at Leona Cox, North Walnut and Old Orchard schools.

Teresa, whose uncle Rick Miler is a CHP officer, joined others in the CHP's ninth annual drive handing out toys and other gifts.

The youngster, who lives with her mother in Simi Valley, has saved her birthday and allowance money over the past three years to help buy toys for the children.

CHP spokesman Doug Sweeney said Teresa donated 65 new toys this year using her own money. The compassionate youngster also solicited money from her schoolteacher and used money she earned from a lemonade stand she set up during the summer to buy toys.

``I just want everyone to have a Christmas,'' she said.

``We are very proud of her and proud to have her assist in passing out the toys,'' Sweeney said.

The CHP collected and distributed 1,400 toys in the Newhall area this year, nearly tripling last year's total.

``We worked harder this year and people seemed to be a little bit more generous that usual,'' Sweeney said. ``It's for a great cause, and the kids were really excited. Rick (Miler) dressed as Santa Claus this year, and it was fun.''

The CHiPs for Kids drive netted more than 18,000 toys throughout Southern California in 1996, and organizers said they were hoping to surpass that figure this year.

Sweeney said eight CHP stations in Southern California participated in the drive with the hope of giving children a better holiday.