Undoing a Grinch-Like Act

It’s a made-to-order story for the Christmas season: After burglars break into the Hollenbeck Youth Center and cart away 3,500 presents collected for poor children in the neighborhood, hundreds of donors arrive from the City of Angels and other parts of Southern California.

After hearing that the Boyle Heights youth center might be unable to continue its decade-long tradition of giving holiday presents, many stepped forward. They manifested a spirit that is especially praiseworthy in a region splintered by long commutes and fragmented communities.

Mary Hall of Duarte, who once lived in the Eastside neighborhood, Martha Spano of Glendale and Susan Lewis of Sylmar were among those dropping off toys throughout the day Tuesday. From St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church in Anaheim came Georgina Sands with 24 cases of Power Ranger activity books and other toys. Other donors included television’s Jay Leno, Los Angeles Police Chief Willie L. Williams, the Walt Disney Co. and Mattel. The two companies, which had donated some of the toys that were stolen, contributed 400 to 800 more toys. Thanks to the outpouring, the center will now have three times as many gifts as before the burglary.

Three suspects have been arrested. They apparently gave armloads of toys to relatives and friends before discarding the rest of the loot. Luckily, good-hearted people came together to undo the effects of this twisted sort of Santa act and ensure that the Hollenbeck Youth Center will again delight thousands of needy kids in Boyle Heights.