The Los Ba&#241;os Police Department and the local California Highway Patrol office are partnering with a variety of businesses in town to provide another successful year of their Kops for Kids program.</p><p>Kops for Kids, a program that Coordinator Noah Jones said has been running for more than 20 years, "is designed for needy families who otherwise would not be able to provide toys for their children for Christmas," according to a press release on the program.</p><p>Last year, Kops for Kids was able to distribute toys to 404 families in Los Ba&#241;os and local law enfourcement agencies believe they'll be able to increase that number for 2009.</p><p>"We're going to do the same things we've done in past years," CHP Officer Mike Panelli said of various fundraisers the pair incorporation in the program.</p><p>"I enjoy being in the program," Panelli said. "It's fun to the deliver the toys and seeing the kids' faces. You can tell they appreciate it."</p><p>Jones agreed.</p><p>"I like being a part of (Kops for Kids)," Jones said. "We definitely deliver to needy families in Los Ba&#241;os. Of course there's self-satisfaction in that, in helping someone else have a merry Christmas."</p><p>Jones, who's had a hand in program for 10 years, said that while "times are tough," organizers are getting a good response from community members, local businesses and organizations that are will to help make Kops for Kids 2009 another successful experience for disadvantaged families in the community.</p><p>"People are trying to do their best as far as making donations," Jones said. "We don't expect a drop in donations.</p><p>"People know this program, and they know that the donations stay local. That's important to people I think," he said.</p><p>There are many other programs that gather community-donated goods during the holidays, but then "ship them out" of town, Jones said; something that makes Kops for Kids worthwhile for Los Ba&#241;os specifically--both donators and receivers.</p><p>"Everything donated here stays here," he said.</p><p>Jones said working in the program and seeing the outcome makes all the hard work worthwhile. He also said he thinks community members get the same sense of accomplishment after donating.</p><p>"We deliver toys to a lot of families, and I think it's a worthwhile event for everyone involved," Jones said.</p><p>The program is set to sponsor a fundraiser event, partnering with Premiere Cinemas on Mercey Springs Road on Dec. 5 at 10 a.m. The movie will be Surf's Up. Admission is a new unwrapped toy or a minimum donation of $1.</p><p>Applicationsto recieve toys this Christmas are being accepted at the Police Activities League office, next to the Police Annex building at 545 J St. in Los Ba&#241;os. The applications are kept confidential. </p><p>Coordinators are also seeking donations for children ages 1 to 12 years old. Jones and Panelli are asking that donations new toys that are unwrapped. Gifts are wrapped by age group and will be delivered to families by the Los Ba&#241;os Police Department and the CHP.</p><p>Toys may be dropped off at the following locations. CHP Los Ba&#241;os office; Los Ba&#241;os Police Department; West America/County Bank; Los Ba&#241;os City Hall; Toscano RV; Los Ba&#241;os Fire Station #1 on Seventh Street; Merced School Employees Credit Union; Merced College Los Ba&#241;os; Walmart; Chase Bank and Wells Fargo Bank.</p><p>For further information, contact Officer Noah Jones at the Los Ba&#241;os Police Department at 827-0603 or CHP Officer Mike Panelli at the highway patrol office at 826-3811.