COUNTYWIDE : Cornucopia of Gifts Collected for Needy

There are few ornaments on the 10-foot Christmas tree that stands in the lobby of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department headquarters, but that hardly mattered on Monday, for a cascade of toys flowed from the top of the staircase down to the lobby, covering the entire floor.

The Sheriff’s Department collected some 2,000 toys and gifts in its annual Santa’s Toys and Joy Project, and Sheriff Brad Gates turned them all over to the Salvation Army on Monday.

The Salvation Army will began to distribute the gifts to area needy families today, said Maj. Rudy Hedgren.

“We are overwhelmed by the size of the donation,” Hedgren said. “One of our big concerns was whether we would have enough toys to give out this year, and (the Sheriff’s Department’s) toy drive will make that possible.”

This year’s project “was the biggest drive ever,” Gates said. “We are glad to be a small part in helping people enjoy Christmas.”

The Sheriff’s Department’s 2,300 employees donated most of the presents. Some local businesses volunteered their time and efforts to make the drive successful, said Lt. Sim Middleton, project coordinator. The businesses included Newport Harbor Hospital in Costa Mesa, Westminster Medical Group, Universal Protection Service in Orange and Madory, Booth, Zell and Pleiss law firm in Tustin.

“Even in good times there are a large number of people in Orange County who don’t have the means to participate in Christmas the way most people do.” Middleton said. “These businesses that took the time out to volunteer to collect the presents really made this drive possible.”