Lowriders set to host toy drive in North Fair Oaks on Saturday

“The whole meaning is just to put a smile on the kids’ faces,” club member Esteban Ramirez said. “That’s why we proceed and keep going ahead with our goals this year.”

Although this is the car club’s 12th year hosting a toy drive — a fact that makes Ramirez particularly proud — this year is different, he said.

“There are people who don’t want to go out. People are afraid to go to work,” Ramirez said. “This year means a lot to us because we really want to get as many toys as possible, to help out those in need, who might have been losing out on work recently.”

Following threats of increased immigration enforcement, many Latino households have opted to stay close to home, skip trips to their favorite stores or even keep children home. Many educators throughout the county have seen a trend of students missing classes in recent months.

The annual toy drive looks to support residents particularly in the North Fair Oaks neighborhood, an unincorporated part of the county that has earned its nickname as “Little Michoacan.”

Many households in the area already work hard to make ends meet, Ramirez said. This year, that pressure is even greater as the cost of living continues to rise.

The lowrider and classic car club can often be the victim of misconceptions and preconceived notions against an innately, but there is nothing more true to Puro Estilow than helping out families, Ramirez said.

“Just because we live in a neighborhood that’s more than 20% immigrants and people don’t want to look here, we want to change that and change what people think,” Ramirez said.

All the toys the car club gathers on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. will be donated to the Fairs Oaks Community Center, which will distribute the toys to low-income families in Redwood City, North Fair Oaks, Woodside, Atherton or Portola Valley. The center also works with the Redwood City police and fire departments, as well as the North Fair Oaks Library, Ramirez said.

Building community support and leaning on one another is critical, especially during this holiday season, Ramirez said.

Nationally, food banks are seeking support from community members as those on food stamps continue without financial support, so making sure the holiday spirit remains among kids of all income levels is just as important, Ramirez said.

Acknowledging that fear remains among residents, Ramirez hopes more and more people feel safe to come out and support.

“That’s part of your goal. We want to get out so they aren’t afraid,” Ramirez said. “But if they are, you can’t stop that. But you can give a kid a toy.”

The North Fair Oaks Community Center is at 2600 Middlefield Road. Go to instagram.com/p/DQpyxbEEmpK for more information.