The holiday season is a time for giving and Tracy-area California Highway Patrol officers are asking residents to donate toys for local children.

During the annual CHiPs for Kids program, CHP officers collect new and unwrapped toys and then distribute them to local children. This year, the giveaway is on Dec. 21 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Tracy CHP office located at 385 W. Grant Line Road.

“Everybody deserves something on Christmas,” said CHP officer Adam Shelton. “When everybody else has toys and you don’t, that’s bad.”

A year ago, the Tracy-based officers collected 500 toys and distributed them to 30 Tracy families.

This year, Shelton said he hopes they will once again be able to meet the need of local families. Although the donations are for all ages, he said the majority of those receiving presents last year ranged from 3 to 12 years old.

CHP is actively recruiting families for the program. Selected children will be able to pick out a toy from the CHP briefing room on the Dec. 21 distribution date.

Last year, officers delivered the toys to the homes of the designated families.

Assisting in the collection efforts for a second straight year are the students and staff at New Jerusalem Elementary School.

“It’s important for us as a community and as a school to help people who are less fortunate,” said Principal Don Patzer. “The kids were excited that we were continuing it again this year. When a kid is able to provide for another kid I think that is an important lesson. It’s also in the spirit of the holidays.”

Patzer said their goal is to fill a CHP patrol car with donated toys collected at the 10 donation bins in kindergarten through eighth grade classrooms.

If the students succeed in filling the car, he said they plan to have a catered technology party where students will be allowed to bring their favorite electronics to schools.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to CHiPs for Kids can drop off a new toy at the Tracy CHP office at 385 W. Grant Line Road from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Dec. 21.

Those families looking to receive a gift for a child must call the CHP office at 835-8920.

Contact Denise Ellen Rizzo at 830-4225 or drizzo@tracypress.com.