HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE

As part of its program to reach to the local community, the Consulate General collaborated with the Los Angeles Police Department (Hollenbeck PAL and Rampart PAL) to launch the Holiday Toy Drive. The main aim was to collect toys, games and books for the less fortunate children in Los Angeles to be distributed as Christmas gifts. For years, the LAPD has been instrumental in bringing much needed cheer to these children, whom otherwise would have been without toys because their families could not afford any.  

The Consul General saw the Toy Drive as a great opportunity for the Consulate to give back to the local community, as well as to increase Malaysia’s profile and name. It also provided an avenue to work with the LAPD that has many community based programs which Malaysia could learn from.

The patroness and wife of the Consul General, Mrs. Kamsiah Kamaruddin, launched the Holiday Toy Drive during a reception on 16 December 2009 at the historic Hotel Mayfair.  LAPD First Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell was the Chief Guest. In her speech, Mrs. Kamsiah stressed the importance of children having toys and games as a stress reliever and imagination builder. She promised greater involvement in the program and to work on how the Malaysian community could be of help. 

The Toy Drive collected more than 4000 toys that were later distributed by the LAPD to children in the East Los Angeles area. The Consul General, Mrs. Kamsiah and family were on hand to watch the toys distributed to the children.