Skip to main content

Cops Giving Tree: Community Partners Unite to Support Over 80 Soledad Families This Holiday Season on December 12

 

Soledad, CA— The Soledad Police Department will host their annual Cops Giving Tree event, an evening dedicated to spreading hope, generosity, and support to local children and families during the holiday season on December 12, beginning at 5PM at the Soledad Community Center. This annual tradition brings our community together in the spirit of giving, ensuring that every child represented on the tree feels seen, valued, and supported. 

Through the combined efforts of the Soledad Police Department, Salinas Valley State Prison, The Correctional Training Facility, the Soledad Unified School District, and the Soledad Community Center, the Soledad Police Department and partners will provide a Christmas meal for over 80 pre-selected families and presents for disadvantaged children from our community.  

Chief Patrick Valenzuela shared, “The Cops Giving Tree represents the very best of our community—compassion, unity, and the desire to lift one another up. Every meal served and every gift donated reflects the generosity that defines Soledad, especially during the holiday season.” 

Who: 

The Soledad Police Department, community members, local families, and partner organizations. Supporting agencies include Salinas Valley State Prison, The Correctional Training Facility, the Soledad Unified School District, and the Soledad Community Center. 

What: 

Cops Giving Tree – a community-centered holiday event providing meals and gifts to local families in need identified before the event (not open to walk-ins). 

When: 

Friday, December 12, 2025 

5:00 p.m.-8:00pm 

Soledad Community Center – 560 Walker Drive, Soledad CA, 93960 

Why: 

To ensure local children and families experience a meaningful and supported holiday season, and to strengthen community bonds through generosity, partnership, and shared compassion. 

Media Contact: 

Eric Mora 

Community Engagement Manager  

City of Soledad 

Emora@CityofSoledad.gov 

831-356-2825 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Fatal 3 Vehicle Accident Involving Wrong Way Driver on Highway 101 Outside of King City on January 10

  A fatal multi-vehicle collision happened on Saturday night, January 10 at 9:51 p.m. on northbound Highway 101 outside of King City. According to the King City CHP a 2016 Toyota Tacoma driven by 65-year-old Paul Lee Cooper of Otis, Oregon was heading the wrong way going southbound in the northbound lanes south of Jolon Road, while a 2006 Toyota Corolla driven by 33-year-old Dinora Maribel Gomez of Salinas was heading northbound on Highway 101 south of Jolon Road in the #1 lane and a Honda Accord driven by 36-year-old Ignacio Sangerman of King City was also traveling northbound on Highway 101 south of Jolon Road but was in the #2 lane. Due to Cooper's level of impairment his vehicle went the wrong way on Highway 101 going directly into the path of Gomez' vehicle causing the rear of her car to crash with the front of the vehicle driven by Sangerman. Cooper was arrested, sustaining major injuries and was transported to Natividad Medical Center in Salinas where as of January 12 is...

Monterey County DA Releases Preliminary Information Concerning an Officer Involved Shooting Incident that Occurred Outside of Soledad on December 16

  SALINAS, California- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni on December 19 released preliminary information concerning the officer involved shooting (OIS) which occurred at about 1:20 a.m. outside the city of Soledad on December 16, 2025. Just before 1:00 a.m., Monterey County Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos Pina, who has been a peace officer for 10 years all with MCSO, and Deputy Blain Councilman, each in separate patrol cars, were dispatched to 32097 McCoy Road. A resident at the farm labor camp reported a suspicious individual with a handgun whose white Honda 4 door sedan was parked in space 18 at the complex. Before parking there, the suspect drove around and around, stopped in front of the reporting party’s (RP’s) truck, and got out. The RP could hear music. Deputy Pina drove the lead patrol car and arrived just after 1:20 a.m. His dashcam video, which does not record sound but which he installed on his own and at his own expense, depicts the following: He drove down ...

King City City Council Announces Selection of José Arreola as New City Manager

  January 7, 2025-Following an extensive recruitment process, José Arreola has been selected by the King City City Council to be its next City Manager. Arreola will replace Steve Adams, who is retiring after serving in the position for the past 10 years. Arreola was selected from 31 applicants and 8 finalists for the position. The King City City Council will formally consider the proposed city manager contract at its meeting on Tuesday night, January 13. Arreola's first day on the job is scheduled to be February 23.    José Arreola has a distinguished career of serving the community with a particular commitment to youth. He has worked for the City of Salinas for 12 years as their Community Safety Program Manager, Community Safety Administrator and Assistant to the City Manager. Among other responsibilities, Arreola has led several programs to eliminate gang violence which aligns well with the City of King’s efforts and priorities. Prior to that, Arreola worked as an Educa...