By Louis Zylka
The 830 Times
Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office employees brought some holiday happiness to 16 area families recently, distributing donated new toys, bicycles and cold weather clothing to more than 60 children.
Sheriff’s office employees held their annual Christmas toy drive, named “Project S.O.S,” from Nov. 23 to Dec. 16.
Lt. Gina Garcia, head of the sheriff’s office criminal investigations division and Crystal Davis, family advocate at the sheriff’s office, spoke with The 830 Times to talk about the toy drive and the families they have helped this year.
Garcia said the toy drive is an annual tradition for the sheriff’s office, one way the office gives back to the community each year.
“The sheriff’s office does the toy drive because we know what it means to the families we service. We know it means a relief, a smile, a ‘thank you,’ because they get something to give to their children on Christmas Day. Whether it is from mom, dad, grandma, or Santa, we just want to put a smile on somebody’s face. That’s our goal,” Garcia said.
Davis and several patrol officers were at Walmart on Nov. 23 accepti
during their annual “Project S.O.S” toy drive. Crystal Davis, family advocate at the sheriff’s office
mentioned the top priority of the sheriff’s office is to “give out as many gifts as possible.”
ng toys and promoting the toy drive. People were also able to contact the sheriff’s office and drop off toys at the office.
Project S.O.S began in the early 2000s, initiated by the late VVSO Lt. James L. Sunderland Sr., and it has been carried on through the years by his son, Lt. James Sunderland Jr. Garcia said she and Davis have been helping organize the toy drive during their time at the sheriff’s office.
Sunderland Jr. said his father started the toy drive to give back to the “less privileged” who live in Val Verde County.
Davis said they choose large families from cases documented in the sheriff’s office. She mentioned the sheriff’s office also receives names of families to help from the Texas McKinney-Vento Program at the San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District.
Local agencies including Air Evac Services, Recana Security Consulting Management and the U.S. Probation Office also helped with Project S.O.S by donating extra gifts.
The families picked up the gifts on Dec. 17 at the sheriff’s office. Patrol officers also delivered gifts to the families who could not pick them up.
Davis said the families are grateful for the gifts they received. She mentioned their top priority is to “give out as many gifts as possible.”
Davis said the leftover toys are given to the patrol deputies, who can hand them out to families of their choice during the Christmas holiday season.
