By Mary O’KEEFE

While the holidays can bring stress to some with shopping for that perfect gift, family gatherings and making every single school concert, for others this time of the year brings a different kind of stress. For some there are sleepless nights worrying about what bills could be left unpaid so at least one gift can be bought for their children, or how to get enough food on the table for the family holidays. It is a time that can spotlight just how difficult life can be for some.

To make the holidays a little easier for those families in need, every year volunteers from the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station sponsor a food and toy drive. This year’s drive has begun and everyone can help local families have a better holiday.

The volunteers are helped by CV Sheriff personnel to gather as much food and as many toys as they can since each year there seem to be more families in need.

In years past, CV Station personnel would get a list of families in need and take bags of food and toys to them. In recent years the sheriffs partnered with the Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Dept. to host a holiday party serving breakfast that includes a visit from Santa.

Tables of toys are set up outside CV Park community room where families can pick items out for their children.

“We usually have about 120 families,” said Dep. Covian from the CV Sheriff’s Station.

The Sheriff’s Food and Toy Drive collects items in decorative barrels that are placed at stores and businesses throughout La Crescenta and La Cañada. As the barrels fill up items are taken to a location where volunteers and sheriff personnel organize the donations of food into bags of groceries for each family.

Sheriff volunteer Bill Latuf has been busily dropping off donation barrels and organizing the food.

“Bill is the one who runs this program,” Covian said.

Toys can be donated for all ages of children; however, each year they come up a little short on items for older teens who are more difficult to buy for. Donation suggestions include any type of sports equipment, electronics or gift cards.

Covian is presently accepting names of families in needs. If there are families who need help, or if someone from a church or organization knows of a family that needs help, call Dep. Covian at (818) 248-3464.

Once the families contact the Sheriff’s Station their names will be placed on a list and they can check in at the CV Park on Dec. 17, the time TBD.

Bins can be found throughout the area including grocery stores like Ralphs and schools like Crescenta Valley High School.

  Mary Okeefe