Christmas Arrives Early for Needy Kids

For 12 years, Blanca Olivas has camped out overnight for the toy giveaway each year at the Hollenbeck Youth Center in Boyle Heights.

This year, she began her vigil for Saturday’s giveaway on Thursday night and, for the first time, was the first person there. “The first in line gets the best gifts,” said Olivas, 38, who is a single mother with four children.

On Saturday morning, Olivas’ eyes watered as her two youngest sons got new bikes. “I’m happy, happy, happy,” said Olivas, who lives in Boyle Heights and works caring for seniors. “I would never have had the money to buy them.”

The annual event drew surprisingly fewer people this year. By the end of the day, police were estimating a crowd of 3,500, and organizers said about 5,000 people showed up.

According to the youth center, 7,000 to 8,000 people usually attend. Police said the event draws an average of 3,500 to 5,000.

“They used to line up about five days to a week in advance,” said Los Angeles Police Officer Ruben Rodriguez, who has worked at the event since 1995. “They used to camp out, and you could see tent cities up to two blocks away.”

By 10 a.m. Saturday, a crowd of about 300 stretched down one block. Police said that by the same time in previous years, there usually were 2,000 people lined up on the sidewalk four blocks deep to Cesar Chavez Avenue.

There was no ready explanation for the lower numbers, but organizers said it may have been a combination of factors. “One of the reasons is that we had discouraged” overnight stays, said Daniel Hernandez, director of the youth center. “We didn’t want anyone to get sick.”

Also, Cummings Street, where families spend the night, has no street lighting and could be dangerous, he said.

Still, 6,000 gifts ranging from skateboards and trucks to Barbie dolls and kitchen sets were given out at what is called the “Miracle on 1st Street.”

This year marks the 20th time that Micaela Naranja has spent the night to get toys for her children, and she said the gifts keep getting better.

“For about five years now, they’ve been giving away really good presents,” said Naranja, 45, a homemaker from Boyle Heights. Popular gifts have included iMacs, Sony PlayStations, Nintendos and scooters.

Bikes were the big item this year, and though none of Naranja’s five children took one home, they were all thrilled as they walked out of Santa’s tent with shiny new dolls and toy cars. “This is the only place I get presents,” said Naranja’s 12-year-old daughter, Eunice, who was pleased with her giant Hummer toy.

Of course, not everyone got what they wanted.

“I want the Nerf ball that whistles,” 13-year-old Martin Ramirez said Friday night. But he wasn’t going to complain if he didn’t get his wish. “At least I’ll get a toy,” he said. “Something’s better than nothing.”

On Saturday, though, Martin’s disappointment was evident as he exited the tent with his head bowed, a non-whistling football in his hands.

Others attended the giveaway for the experience.

Maria Ruiz, 21, had never been before. Her sister-in-law, who used to go as a child, insisted on spending the night Friday. Ruiz, a community college student from Burbank, said she will be back next year.

“It was a fun experience,” she said. Ruiz and her family stayed up talking into the night. On Saturday, her daughter received a My Little Pony toy. “If my daughter’s happy, it’s worth it,” Ruiz said.