STUDIO CITY—At Art's Delicatessen & Restaurant, a donation box has been set up for the North Hollywood Police Department’s (NHPD) annual toy drive. Since 1997, the LAPD Holiday Toy Drive has provided young Angelenos with toys, especially for those suffering hard times.
  
“This is our first year working with the drive,” co-owner Harold Ginsburg told Canyon News. “We support the LAPD and want to help provide these kids with toys.” Art’s is only one of many restaurants around the Valley and Los Angeles as a whole. The NHPD’s toy drive is led by Officer Robert Munoz from the LAPD’s Community Relations Office.

Photo courtesy of North Hollywood West Neighborhood Council.

 
   
The drive is meant to foster a sense of community between citizens and police, especially for young children. “Hearing sirens isn’t always a bad thing” Officer Kowalczyk, Munoz’s partner, told Canyon News. Boys and girls from pre-Kindergarten to elementary school children will receive the majority of the toys, especially those at Head Start schools. Later on, on a patrol caravan day, police will load patrol cars with small gifts. With their sirens on and lights flashing, officers will head out to six locations and hand out these toys.
   
The toys will be collected in the week before Christmas, around December 19. Donations of unwrapped toys, big or small, are welcomed at the North Hollywood Police Station at 11640 Burbank Boulevard  North Hollywood, CA 91601 as well Art’s and other participating restaurants. Matchbox cars and other gifts for children are among the suggestions made by Officer Kowalczyk. For more information call R. Munoz at (818) 623-4001.

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