CHP Hosting Toy Drive Today to 'Cover the Cruiser' in Palm Desert

The California Highway Patrol will collect toys for local children around the Coachella Valley over the next several days in hopes of getting to their ultimate goal of at least 8,000 gifts, a CHP spokesman tells Palm Desert Patch.

One of the major events is right here in town, called "cover the cruiser," and focuses on doing just that: burying an entire CHP cruiser with toys, CHP Officer Joe Zagorski said.

The vehicle will be parked at the Walgreens located on Monterey Avenue, at Highway 111, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. today, Dec. 7.

There will be another cruiser parked at the Walgreens on Avenue 42 and Jackson Street during the same time, he added. 

People can bring new, unwrapped toys for the CHP's annual toy drive, CHiPS for Kids, to the above scheduled events or any Walgreens or Starbucks, KESQ News Channel 3's studios at 42-650 Melanie Place, Palm Desert, or the Indio CHP office, 79-650 Varner Road, Indio, Zagorski added.

He said many toys are still needed.

Last year, the agency was able to get 7,000 toys into the community, many of which are distributed to local charities who hand them out.  This year, Zagorski said he'd like to top that number. 

“In all, a minimum were are shooting for is about 8,000 toys," he told Patch-- adding that with 10,000, they'd be able to help nearly everyone on their list.

“No matter what, every toy counts," he added.

Upcoming events:

• " Cover the Cruiser," Friday 3 to 7 p.m. at Walgreens, Avenue 42 and Jackson Street in Indio and 44840 Monterey Ave. in Palm Desert.
• KPLM The Big 106's CHiPs for Kids radiothon with Randy Houston, Saturday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Palm Springs Motors, 69-200 Highway 111, Cathedral City.
• Toy Drive Car Show, Sunday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino's parking garage, 84-245 Indio Springs Drive, Indio.
• KESQ's "Cover the Cruiser" televised toy drive, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Mathis Brothers Furniture, 81-410 Highway 111, Indio.