December 7, 2019, By PBSWest.org

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and in Jordan Downs there was lots to cheer about. Inside the Jordan Downs Recreational Gymnasium, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Theta Alpha Sigma Chapter | Long Beach, CA hosted its 16th Annual Toys for Watts giveaway for the small community in Watts, CA.

Theta Alpha Sigma Alumni Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated‘s annual Toys for Watts Toy Drive was a huge success this past Saturday, December 7, 2019, at the Jordan Downs Community, in Watts, California.

The Southern California members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., in collaboration with the Housing Authority for the City of Los Angeles, The Los Angeles Police Department, The Boys and Girls Club, Jordan Downs Resident Advisory Council, Top Dawg Entertainment, Coach for Kids, USC Health and the US Census Bureau were able to come together and support the 700+ Kids and families in the Jordan Downs community with toys, books, clothing, snacks and service programs.

The Jordan Downs Housing Projects is a 700-unit public housing apartment complex in Watts, CA next to David Starr Jordan High School. It consists of 103 buildings with townhouse style units ranging in size from one to five bedrooms. The complex is owned and managed by the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA). One-third of the community is employed with an average annual salary of $16,000 a year (US National average is approximately $55,575). At this year‘s toy drive, Joanna Garcia, a member of the Mayor’s office, thanked Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. for the hard work over the years and shared that when she was a child, she remembers attending the toy drive and it has a huge impact on her and her family.

Below is a testimony from one of the parents in the community:
“Hello Phi Beta Sigma! I live on Lou Dillon Avenue in Watts. Today I was driving my two grandkids to their appt., on Grape St, when I saw a bunch of kids coming out of the Community Center at the Jordan downs with toys. I immediately ran with the kids in the hopes they could get a toy. I had just finished saying no toys this year to them, and then they got toys. I couldn't be more grateful to you guys. I had never heard of your org. before and now I'll be mentioning to anyone that'll listen, of how you guys really made a difference to my grandkids. I thank you from the bottom of my heart and more importantly my grandkids. Thank you, Bless your Heart Truly.”

"The mission of the program is to collect new and unwrapped toys for the event and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to the needy children in the Jordan Downs community. The message we want to convey is “no child left behind” and “I am my Brother’s Keeper," We want to help all families to enjoy the spirit of Christmas as it was designed to be a joyous event," stated Theta Alpha Sigma Chapter President, Bro. Chris Manigault.

Every child who attend the event at the Jordan Downs Recreation Gymnasium was given the opportunity to pick from piles of action figures, dolls, balls, games, cars, and coloring books. The Men of Sigma also supplied each child with a book to promote literacy and encourage the love of reading. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Theta Alpha Sigma Chapter of Long Beach, California, organizes and hosts the event every year, however, the Men of Sigma and the Women of Zeta throughout Southern California supported the project by donating both their time and money. Traditionally, there are extra toys leftover that the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) along with Community Parks & Recs takes with them to other housing projects to extend the love to other toy giveaways.

Photos of the event can be seen here