EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The Southwest Lowrider Council and other car clubs from around El Paso joined forces the weekend before Christmas for the third annual Chuco Town’s Lowrider Toy Drive.

The event was held on Sunday, Dec. 21 at the Fox Plaza flea market in South-Central El Paso.

The car clubs and independent car enthusiasts who participated in the drive donated thousands of toys that were given out to underprivileged children in the region.

“Last year we gave out more than 10,000 toys. I think we’re going to give out more than 20,000 toys today,” said Marco Morales, a member of the SLC and the Rollerz Only car club.

“It’s really heartwarming. It’s beautiful because the times that we live in today, I feel like we do need to be appreciative of the small things that are being done in the community. So it’s really beautiful,” said Priscilla Monique Hernandez, who took her daughter to the toy drive.

Morales said that the event scaled up significantly from previous years in both turnout and how many participants joined.

The event also included a car show that featured over 300 vehicles that included lowriders, trucks, bikes, and classic cars. Morales said that the lowrider scene in El Paso is among the best in the country.

“El Paso has brought a lot of gold and first places from competitions around the country. We’ve put El Paso on the map in competitions in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. El Paso is the heart of the lowrider in this region,” Morales said.

Despite how passionate and united Morales said the lowrider culture is in El Paso, he said they still have to battle negative stereotypes. He said that with events such as the toy drive he hopes they can show to the community and children that the lowrider culture is greater than what it can be perceived to be.

“People here love the lowrider culture, but unfortunately the stereotype is very negative. So we’re out doing and changing that image. We’re bringing in people that believe in the roots of  the culture of lowriding, and actually encourage kids to want to build the (cars),” Morales said. “People would say of the lowrider industry, ‘Oh they’re just cholos and gangbangers.’ No, we have a lot of professional people building these lowriders.”

Morales said that behind some of the lowrider enthusiasts at Sunday’s event were firemen, police officers, judges, lawyers, who are just passionate about the art of building and maintaining the vehicles.

“These guys were criticized in the past for how they dressed, for how their vehicles looked. To me, it’s art. They are displaying Mexican-American culture — the lowrider culture. They were labeled the wrong way because they are great people who not only manifest that in their art, but how they help their community,” said Jose Najera, who volunteered to help with the giveaway. “Seeing all those smiles, those happy families, it doesn’t have a price. That is why I am so thankful to all these guys that put this together.”

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.