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Monday night Assemblymember Manuel Perez invited the community to attend a toy drive at Soul of Mexico in Indio to gather gifts for children this Christmas.
The Galilee Center will distribute toys to more than 2,000 children this year.

As Christmas draws near, many toys are needed for families living in our valley.
"We're doing this because there are still many families in our communities that unfortunately are out of work, are unfortunately under-served and under-resourced," said Assemblyman Perez.
The Galilee Center wants to give at least 2 or 3 toys to each child on Christmas Day.
"The people that we are serving on the eastern Coachella Valley, they're the poorest of the poor and they are so happy to receive just one little thing, some of them, they do not have anything at all, and I think that's the most important part, to feel warm, to feel that God is doing what we're supposed to do," said Galilee Center co-founder, Gloria Gomez.
And people that brought a toy, enjoyed a meal courtesy of Soul of Mexico.
"Somebody is going to take something for Christmas, so I'm super happy, because they smile, so thank you for coming, it's a pleasure for us," said Soul of Mexico owner, Teresa Lua.
And the joy of giving was visible, people  hoping to give local children a happy Christmas.
this is one way in which we can give a good gesture of hope, of faith as well as making sure that others that perhaps don't have much, that we give back to them."
If you want to help, you can still drop off toys at the Galilee Center or this weekend at the Albertsons on Deep Canyon and Hwy 111 or on Monterey and Country Club.