Chino nonprofit asks for help in obtaining warehouse space to conduct annual holiday toy drive

CHINO, Calif. (KABC) -- A Chino family has reached out for the public's help in its effort to make the holidays special for the less fortunate through an annual toy drive.

Last week, hundreds of needy families lined up at a location in southwest San Bernardino County to get what they needed to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner. The event was spearheaded by Charleen King, who has participated for years as part of the Christian nonprofit organization Isaiah's Rock.

"These people feed everybody," said one man who received a free turkey. "They really take care of everybody."

But while the Thanksgiving week event went off without a hitch, Christmas is looking somewhat bleak. Many of the same volunteers, who collect Christmas toys for less-fortunate families, usually have warehouse space donated for storage and sorting.

But not this year.

"This year in Chino there's only 1 percent availability for warehouses," King explained. "We don't have the space. We already have toys that have been coming in (for) about 5,000 kids."

Without the warehouse space, organizers say they're not sure whether they can conduct the toy giveaway this year.

"We're just seeking and looking and any assistance at all," said Eddie King, Charleen King's son. "We need almost a 75,000- to 100,000-(square-)foot warehouse to be able to do what we need to do."

Charleen King described the situation as "desperate."

"We've looked everywhere for a warehouse," she said. "And it's not that they won't give us one - there's none available. So if anyone knows of one, we'd really appreciate it."