By Will Kane, John Wildermuth
The San Francisco Chronicle
SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco police and officials from the city’s Housing Authority are trying to reinvigorate the tradition of distributing toys to kids living in public units whose families can’t afford much.
“So it is Barbies, Barbies, Barbies, Elmos, Elmos, Elmos,” said Rose Dennis, a spokeswoman for the Housing Authority. “It is all the good stuff.”
Dennis said police officers donated many of the toys and will haul them to the city’s 20 public housing sites next week. Police in uniform will visit families with children under 12 and deliver toys.
The police “want to do it and make it better for our families,” Dennis said.
This year was particularly challenging as the economy and fewer volunteers meant the 17-year-old program was in danger of ceasing. But Police Chief Greg Suhr stepped in and made sure the program continued, Dennis said.
“He said, ‘We are really going to do this, we are really going to make this happen,’ ” Dennis said.
But the charity still needs donations, Dennis said. Especially toys for girls ages 10 through 12.
“They’re hard to shop for,” Dennis said.
People interested in donating or volunteering should visit their local police station or call the police Community Relations Division at 415 558-5505.
“It ain’t over until it is over,” Suhr said. “It would be much appreciated not only by the Police Department but also by the kids and families who live in public housing.
“If you could just keep the Christmas spirit alive for the kids that have a little less than everyone else, that would be cool.”
Copyright 2011 San Francisco Chronicle