IRVINE : Group Holding Toy Drive for Christmas

Boxes of new toys are piling up at the local office of the Red Cloud American Indian Society, a nonprofit organization that will deliver the items to tribal reservations as part of its annual Christmas benefit.

The group hopes to provide 8,500 holiday presents to children on reservations in North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana. Representatives from the society will depart from Orange County in mid-December to personally deliver the gifts.

“I look forward to seeing the smiles on the children’s faces,” said Red Cloud volunteer Marci Glidden.

The toy drive is one of many charity programs sponsored by Red Cloud.

The organization recently shipped 160,000 books to reservations as part of a program aimed at increasing educational opportunities for Native Americans.

It has also set up scholarship funds for outstanding Native American students.

Red Cloud is now distributing 35,000 pairs of shoes to reservations, said Hugh Margesson, the executive director.

Many of the toys received so far have come from corporate donors. But residents are welcome to donate items. Red Cloud officials, however, ask that the toys be new.

“The kids are used to hand-me-downs,” Glidden said. “We want to give them something brand-new. We don’t want them to feel like second-class citizens.

“Getting a new gift improves their self-esteem and self-worth,” Glidden added. “It’s better than getting a doll with its arm torn off.”

For more information about donating toys, call the society at (714) 833-3865.