SHERIFF'S STATION LOOKS LIKE TOYLAND.Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer PALMDALE - More than 125 youngsters who face an uncertain Christmas are getting presents thanks to efforts by a Palmdale sheriff's deputy, volunteers and several local businesses. The gift-wrapped toys and clothing will be handed out today around the Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley to children whose parents contacted the Palmdale sheriff's station and said they were unable to give their kids presents because of financial hardships. ``They're all families that are barely able to make ends meet,'' said Deputy Dave Jennings David Tuthill Jennings (born June 8, 1952 in New York, New York) was an [ , who has spent several weeks raising money, shopping for gifts and deciding which families have the greatest need. ``A lot of these families are on some type of government assistance or have just relocated re·lo·cate v. re·lo·cat·ed, re·lo·cat·ing, re·lo·cates v.tr. To move to or establish in a new place: relocated the business. v.intr. to the Antelope Valley and don't have the money to buy presents.'' Jennings on Thursday was still seeking donations to buy gifts for the last 15 children whose parents called. Meanwhile, volunteers gathered at the Palmdale station to wrap and label gifts he already got. Presents ranged from small art sets and dolls to more expensive sport sweaters and movie tickets. ``We've done this for the last two years because we just like to help out,'' said Mary Jane Dunn as she and her 13-year-old son, Michael, helped wrap the presents. Michael, however, jokingly claimed an ulterior motive a motive, object or aim beyond that which is avowed. See also: Ulterior . ``And we get doughnuts,'' he said. Jennings faced challenges this year since he had just transferred to the Palmdale community-relations office and had never dealt with the annual call for gifts from the sheriff's station. The Sheriff's Relief Fund didn't provide its usual $700 donation because of losses in the stock market. Businesses and organizations that contributed included Wal-Mart, Powder and Sun, Sport Chalet Sport Chalet is a retailer of sporting equipment, apparel, shoes, and accessories in the United States. It operates approximately 40 company owned stores in Southern California, Arizona, Nevada, with new stores opening soon in Utah, with the first at Jordan Landing. , High Desert Storm, Reflections Sports Memorabilia The term sports memorabilia usually refers to anything that can be directly connected to a sports event or personality. These items are generally gathered by fans of the particular sport, athlete or team that the item signifies or by collectors who find value in the rarity , T Shirts X-Press and the American Legion American Legion, national association of male and female war veterans, founded (1919) in Paris. Membership is open to veterans of World Wars I and II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. . ``Some of these people really stepped up and made it happen,'' Jennings said. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Volunteers at the Palmdale sheriff's station wrap gifts Thursday for more than 125 kids in low-income families. Greg Botonis/Special to the Daily News |
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