West Los Angeles 4th Annual Christmas Charity Airlift to Mexico

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, December 17, 1998
West Los Angeles Community Police Station’s Fourth Annual Christmas Charity Airlift to Mexico

For the fourth consecutive year police officers and civilian staff from the West Los Angeles Police Station have donated toys, clothing, food, household items, and health care items for needy children and families in Mexicali, Mexico. This year members of the community and local businesses have also donated items for this charitable event.
On Saturday, December 19, 1998, ten airplanes piloted by off-duty police officers will load their planes at the Van Nuys Airport, Wescam Company ramp, located on the southeast corner of Sherman Way and Hayvenhurst Avenue. The airplanes will be loaded between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. The aircraft will take off beginning at 8:30 a.m. The officers will airlift the donated goods 240 miles to Mexicali for distribution to children. This year due to the increase in the quantity of donated items, pilots from the Santa Monica based Angel Flight will assist the officers. Angel Flight is a humanitarian organization that provides pilots and airplanes to transport patients in need of medical care throughout the southwestern United States.

The 1998 airlift will provide over 300 children new toys such as dolls, trucks, stuffed animals, crayons and coloring books, bats and balls.

For the past four years, officer from West Los Angeles Station have extended a helping hand across the border at Christmas to truly needy children in Mexicali as a gesture of international goodwill and friendship. Unlike the Los Angeles area, Mexicali does not have any organizations which come to the aid of the needy. That makes the donations by officers and citizens all the more appreciated.

For Release 8:30 am PST
December 17, 1998