Metro’s 3rd Annual A Better Christmas

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Friday, December 11, 1998
The Los Angeles Police Department Metropolitan Division, The United States Secret Service and the California Highway Patrol will be holding it’s third annual "A BETTER CHRISTMAS" on December 17, 1998.

This event is held in response to the needs of the homeless and less fortunate. This worthwhile event will begin at Our Lady of Loretto Elementary School then to Tenth Street Elementary School, finally ending at two locations of the Good Shepherd Centers for homeless women. Good Shepherd Center for homeless women has been in operation since 1984 and provides a full spectrum of services to homeless women and homeless women with children.

Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will arrive by motorcade accompanied by representatives of the LAPD, United Stated Secret Service and the California Highway Patrol. Santa and Mrs. Claus will deliver gifts of food and toys. The Los Angeles Police Department will also have at each location members of the Mounted Unit, and Air Support will do a fly-by to announce Santa’s arrival. The gifts of food and toys are made possible by the donations from Ralphs Grocery Company, Mattel Toys Incorporated, See’s Candies and Valle Brothers Flowers.

The itinerary will be as follows:

Location 1 Time of Arrival – 12:00 P.M.

Our Lady of Loretto Elementary School
258 N. Union Street
Los Angeles, CA

Location 2 Time of Arrival – 1:30 P.M.

10th Street Elementary School
1000 Gratten Street
Los Angeles, CA

Location 3 Time of Arrival – 3:00 P.M.

Good Shepard Center
1719 N. Taft Street
Los Angeles, CA

Location 4 Time of Arrival – 4:35 P.M.

Good Shepard Center
1650 Rockwood Street
Los Angeles, CA

NOTE: The media is invited to all locations, but please be sensitive to the filming at the Good Shepherd Centers.

For further information please contact Officer Griffith, LAPD Metropolitan Division at (213) 485-4091.

For Release 12:30 pm PST
December 11, 1998