Toy Giveaway for Children & Families Living in SF Public Housing

12/13/2013 SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco Police Department, Operation Dream, and Housing Authority (HUD) join with San Francisco Recreation Park Department for a holiday celebration serving the children and families who are living in the Potrero Hill Public Housing. The event will take place on Saturday, December 14th starting at 11:30AM.

At the event, there will be toy giveaway, cookie decorating, bounce house, age appropriate recreation activities and fun games. Santa will be on hand to join in on the fun. Hot dogs and snacks will be provided for the children by San Francisco Police Department, Operation Dream. There will be toy giveaway at all the Public Housing sites throughout the City, during this holiday season.

“San Francisco Police Department Operation Dream Team work all year long, with our partners, raising funds and gathering toys towards the day (today) when we are blessed to be to put so many smiles on so many little faces. It truly is what is being a police officer is all about – helping people; and in this case, making a difference in the life of a child during the holiday season. It really doesn’t get any better than this.” Said Chief Greg Suhr, San Francisco Police Department.

“SF Rec and Park is excited to be in partnership with SFPD, Operation Dream and HUD to provide holiday fun for families in need,” said Phil Ginsburg, SF Rec and Park General Manager. “After all, this is what holidays are about: family.” “For over 18 years, both retired SFPD, active SFPD personnel, and many volunteer civilians, have been working tirelessly with the San Francisco Housing Authority to provide toys to girls and boys growing up in San Francisco’s public housing. The fundraising, the logistics, and all of the hard work and planning that goes into making this a reality is no small undertaking. We thank the San Francisco Police Department for their continued kindness, generosity, support, and for bringing joy to our families. Our children look forward to the Operation Dream gifts each and every year,” Said Joaquin Torres, President of the Board of Commissioners of the San Francisco Housing Authority.

For the past fifteen years, the members of Operation Dream have conducted a Christmas Toy Drive for the children of San Francisco. The Christmas Toy Drive benefit the children living in Public Housing, HUD complexes, and low-income neighborhoods, as well as children in hospitals. This toy drive consists of several public events to collect toys and raise funds to purchase toys, including the San Francisco 49ers and Toy collection and San Francisco Recreation and Park Department’s Holiday Tree Lighting which took place on December 5th.