City Prepares for Annual Holiday Block Party

Mark you calendar for the 18th Annual Christmas Block Party Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Redlands Community Center. The event is provided by The Redlands Police Department and City of Redlands Quality of Life Recreation Division. The annual Christmas Party was created to assist families who are unable to enjoy the luxuries of a traditional Christmas celebration, particularly providing toys and presents for their children. Considering the number of low-income families, those in need and those who are unemployed in Redlands, the Redlands Police Department, Quality of Life Department, local businesses and numerous volunteers have come together each year to assist local families. The City of Redlands is working with various organizations to provide toys, food, bicycles, games and crafts to children during the annual block party, scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Redlands Community Center, 111 W. Lugonia Ave. Between 3,000 and 5,000 families attend this event each year. For many of the children, this will be the only “Christmas” they receive. In addition to providing gifts, donated by various community groups, the celebration will also provide youth and children the opportunity to showcase their talents. Contests will be conducted throughout the event. The City of Redlands Recreation Division and Redlands Police Department is currently collecting toys for this year’s event. This year’s toy drive is critically important. Grant funding has been limited for the past several years and the toy drive will be a major contributor to the toys/gifts given to the children this year. In previous years, the toy drives have matched the gifts purchased through grant funding allowing more than 1,000 gifts/toys to be donated to our community, local shelters and families in crisis. All monetary and toy donations will assist in providing toys, food, bicycles, games and crafts to children during the annual block party. You can join in the spirit of giving by donating new, unwrapped toys for children between the ages of 4 and 12. Toys may be dropped off through Dec. 11 at the following locations throughout the City: • Joslyn Senior Center, 21 Grant St. • Redlands Community Center, 111 W. Lugonia Ave. • Redlands Police Department, 1270 W. Park Ave. For additional information on the Children’s Christmas Block Party, contact David Jaffe at (909) 798-7572 ext. 4220. The Redlands Community Center is located at 111. W. Lugonia Ave. in Redlands.