Behind the Badge
As the parking lot at South Coast Plaza filled with the cars of holiday gift buyers on the last full shopping weekend before Christmas, holiday gift giving was in full swing on the other side of Sunflower Avenue at the 30th annual Spark of Love Stuff-A-Bus toy drive.
Once again, the Santa Ana Police Department was at the center of it all. Commander Jose Gonzalez and other officers arrived at 3:30 a.m. for the popular event, as they have done for more than a decade.
Santa Ana police officers open the back of a Santa Ana Police Department rescue vehicle before moving the toys to a bus during the Spark of Love Toy Drive 2022 Stuff-A-Bus event in Santa Ana.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
As usual, Santa Ana’s sleigh came in the form of the department’s Bearcat SWAT vehicle filled floor to roof with unwrapped toys as part of the effort to fill eight to 10 OCTA buses with gifts.
“It is always a pleasure for me,” Gonzalez said. “This is what Santa Ana is all about.”
Officers opened the back doors of the Bearcat, revealing an explosion of color with sports equipment, dolls, musical trains, make-up kits, games and toys galore.
“These are all from the officers,” Gonzalez said.
Santa Ana police officers gather next to multiple OCTA buses during a Stuff-A-Bus event for the Spark of Love Toy Drive in 2022 in Santa Ana.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Most of the Santa Ana Police Department donations were courtesy of the department’s inaugural 5-kilometer 31 for 31 Fun Run for holiday giving, which was created two years ago by Chief David Valentin to kick off the giving season.
In addition to police and public safety officials, the event featured broadcasters and celebrities from local television, cheerleaders, and the Anaheim Ducks mascot Wild Wing, as well as characters from Star Wars and passersby dropping off gifts.
Tony Cabrera of KABC News interviews Santa Ana Police Commander Jose Gonzalez during a live broadcast during the Spark of Love Toy Drive 2022 Stuff-A-Bus event in Santa Ana.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Teresa Samaniego, Vice President of Diversity & Community Relations for KABC, said the goal of this year’s toy campaign is to deliver more than $500,000 in toys. The toy drive works with a wide array of school districts and nonprofits that help local families in need, people experiencing homelessness, victims of domestic violence, and foster children.
“The need is great and any toy counts,” she said.
Among the local groups in attendance was the Touch and Go Soccer Academy of Tustin, which brought about 10 kids with gifts.
“We have a lot of opportunities, so we wanted to share,” said Academy student Addyson Pedroza, 10.
Tony Cabrera of KABC News (wearing a red jacket) gathers everyone for a live news clip during the Spark of Love Toy Drive 2022 Stuff-A-Bus event in Santa Ana.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
“I just wanted other kids to get toys they couldn’t have,” added London Sue-Kam-Ling, 9.
As the group assembled for a TV spot, Academy Director Sarah Devine urged the kids, “Act as if you just won state.”
Various toy makers also sent representatives. One was Anne-Marie of Basic Fun, who arrived with a vibrant collection of more than 100 pink Care Bears.
Santa Ana Police Officer Natalie Garcia caries an arm full of toys from SAPD’s rescue vehicle to a bus during the Spark of Love Toy Drive 2022 Stuff-A-Bus event in Santa Ana.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Although the drive is in its 30th year, the location adjacent to the mall was its third in three years. In previous years the Orange County version of the event was held in Anaheim at the Honda Center, and last year was held at Santa Ana College.
Stuff-A-Bus events are part of the annual Spark of Love Campaign, billed as the largest community toy drive in the country. Over the years, organizers say the Spark of Love toy drive has successfully collected and distributed nearly 9 million toys.
This year, in addition to Santa Ana, buses collected gifts in Camarillo and Cerritos.
Santa Ana police officers pose for a photo in front of a Santa Ana Police Department rescue vehicle full of toys during the Spark of Love Toy Drive 2022 Stuff-A-Bus event in Santa Ana.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Celebrities and newscasters from ABC-7 broadcast segments from the event. In addition to the network, Subaru, Toys for Tots, and firefighters sponsor the local events.
Gonzalez said when he became involved with the toy drive, mounted troops from Santa Ana and other agencies would show up with the riders carrying red sacks laden with toys.
Three-year-old Ayrabelle Dannarath sits with Santa Ana Police Cpl. Luis Galeana after Ayrabelle came to drop off a toy for the Spark of Love Toy Drive.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Although the Stuff-A-Bus collections have concluded, donations to Spark of Love can still be made through December 24 by:
- Dropping off new unwrapped toys or sports equipment at local fire stations or Subaru retailers. Subject to change due to public health protocol.
- Texting “SPARK” to 24365.
- Donating online at https://supportlafd.kindful.com/ via credit card, or at ABC-7. All proceeds go toward buying toys or sports equipment for children.
- By mail: Send checks to LAFD Foundation, Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Center, 1700 Stadium Way #100, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Make checks out to LAFD FOUNDATION, and write SPARK OF LOVE in the memo line.
- Spark of Love-inspired t-shirts are available, with 100 percent of proceeds supporting the 30th annual toy drive, at com/shop.
Santa Ana Police Officer Stephen Geist caries a bag full of toys to a bus during the Spark of Love Toy Drive 2022 Stuff-A-Bus event in Santa Ana.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Santa Ana police officers with kids during the Spark of Love Toy Drive in Santa Ana.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
