CANOGA PARK : Santa Keeps His Date With Needy Children

Santa couldn’t be late for a very important date.

Maybe that’s why St. Nick chose a police escort over his usual reindeer to attend the Guadalupe Community Center’s annual Christmas party for needy children Thursday.

As Santa emerged from the black-and-white, a ripple of excitement surged through the crowd of children lined up to meet him. Parents held chunky toddlers above their heads so they could see the portly, red-suited visitor.

It was the eighth annual party sponsored by Catholic Charities, which runs the community center, and the Los Angeles Police Department’s West Valley Division. Invited were children of the families participating in Guadalupe’s Adopt-a-Family program, which provides poor families with food, clothing and gifts during the holiday season.

The nearly 600 children who attended this year were given 700 toys donated by local schools, a business, a synagogue and individuals.

Officer George Aguilar, who has coordinated the event for the LAPD for the past five years, said the presents donated this year were smaller and fewer than have been collected in the past.

“It’s because more groups are doing this, so the resources are getting tapped out,” Aguilar explained. The flow of toys seemed fast and furious, however, at Santa’s armchair.

“How you doing? What’s your name?” asked Santa (a.k.a. Officer Henry Gutierrez) as the kids shyly sidled up to him and told him which present they wanted.

The party also included lunch: McDonald’s hamburgers, potato chips, fruit, cookies and orange drinks.

“It’s great,” said Dalila Cordova, 11. “They’re going to give us presents and you get to eat McDonald’s food.”

Edith Salgado, 8, said she had learned about Santa in school.

“When he laughs, he goes, ‘Ho Ho Ho,’ ” she explained, holding her sides.