Some of Long Beach Unified School District’s most underprivileged students scored big Sunday afternoon when they were treated to new toys at McBride Park.
The Christmas gifts were part of the long-running Santa Visit & Toy Drive event hosted by the local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in collaboration with multiple community groups and businesses.
The dozens of children in attendance, who ranged in age from 5 to 12, were methodical in their toy selections—some perusing the toy-filled tables lined up against the walls inside the California Recreation Center before making their final choices.
And while they obliged the two-toy limit rule given to them, Branch President Naomi Rainey Pierson—upon inspecting their bounty as they headed for the door—ordered some back to the tables to grab more.
A former educator, Rainey Pierson said the event is not only about giving children gifts but also creating a space where they can have positive interactions with police and people of various ethnic groups.
“And for me, the joy is in teaching them that they are special and hoping that they’ll remember in this event people cared about them,” Rainey Pierson said.
Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna and a handful of other officers were some of the volunteers helping children select toys, and even led them in an “Oath of Self Esteem and Good Behavior.”
Luna echoed Rainey Pierson’s message of providing kids with a positive interaction with officers.
“It’s very important for kids to see that police officers in uniform that we’re working in partnership with the community, that we’re not somebody to be afraid of, we’re actually somebody to work with and we help out by giving toys,” Luna said.
Of course, seeing their huge smiles and receiving hugs is the most rewarding, he said.
