Officers at the Los Angeles Police Department’s Foothill Community Police Station are going beyond protecting and serving neighborhoods this holiday season. They are donating baskets of food and toys throughout the San Fernando Valley region to more than 200 families and 600 children. The Arleta-based station partnered with local organizations and companies including the Royal Priesthood Chosen Generation, a religious motorcycle organization in Santa Clarita, and USI Insurance Services in Woodland Hills to raise cash donations and hundreds of toys and bikes for families in need. “There is a considerable amount of time that goes into organizing events and giving donations,” said John Fischer, an officer at the Foothill station. Officers connected with area grade schools to find out which families within the community were most in need. On Dec. 12, the station hosted an event at the David Gonzalez Recreation Park to distribute baskets and toys. Enough food was donated to fill 200 baskets, each containing a $20 gift card to a local grocer, rice, beans and additional entrees, desserts and other essentials such as toilet paper. The Police Department will be hosting two additional events later this month in Tujunga and Pacoima to hand out the remaining toys and food. The station’s holiday basket and toy giveaway program has been an annual event since 1979, and USI has been participating for more than 30 years. The company reached out to insurance associates and many of its clients for support; more than $8,000 in cash and toy gifts were donated from companies including OPI Products, a nail lacquer manufacturer in North Hollywood, and Imperial Toys in North Hills. “I think it’s about the children and (showing them) that there are people in their community they will never meet who care about them,” said Lenelle Dueker, senior vice president at USI. “It’s also about supporting the police and their efforts because they do all the hard work.” Rides for Hope A local Army veteran will be cruising through the San Fernando Valley in style this holiday season. Gabriella Rodriguez received a vehicle donation from Farmers Insurance Group of Woodland Hills in November, two years after her husband was killed on a tour in Afghanistan. As Rodriguez, who also served in Afghanistan, continues to care for her young son, she hopes to find stable employment – something she struggled to do previously due to lack of a vehicle. Farmers Group donated the car through its Rides for Hope program, designed to help veterans and families obtain reliable transportation. The insurer worked alongside L.A. nonprofit Fighting for Families, founded by Farmers Insurance agent Patrick Lufrano. Fighting for Families also presented Rodriguez with a cash donation of $25,000. “It’s an honor to be able to serve those who serve our country,” said Lufrano. “Through the Fighting for Families charity, we were able to give Gabriella and her son $25,000. We are looking forward to giving donations like this to other local veterans.” Conquering Homelessness An innovative fundraiser definitely has its charm, and Back on My Feet Los Angeles took the cake with its Treadmill Challenge last month. The national nonprofit partnered with Westfield Corp. of Century City to combat homelessness using the Treadmill Challenge, a 12-hour event held at the 24 Hour Fitness in the Village at Westfield Topanga in Woodland Hills. The challenge consisted of three treadmills, on which 25 active runners took turns for 12 hours straight. As the event commenced, Back on My Feet L.A. educated those in attendance about homelessness in Los Angeles County. All funds raised were donated to Back on My Feet L.A. to help homeless individuals move toward living more financially stable lives. Back on My Feet was founded in 2007 in Philadelphia and has helped more than 1,800 people gain employment and 1,200 find housing. Burbank Turkey Trot The sixth annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot brought more than 2,000 volunteers and sponsors to the Burbank Community YMCA this Thanksgiving. The annual trot took place at 6 a.m. in the parking lot of the community center. Races included 10K and 5K runs, a 5K walk for fun and a kiddie run. Commemorative medals and shirts were awarded to participants. Companies that helped organize the event include A5 Events, an event planning and management company in Burbank, and Run Kids Run, an L.A. event management company for children. Staff Reporter Champaign Williams can be reached at (818) 316-3121 or [email protected].
