Carruth, who is a member of the Latino firefighters association—Los Bomberos of Northern California—heads the San Jose Fire Department's holiday toy drive.

The two men marshaled their department's resources and delivered more than 200 donated toys to the school on Dec. 12.

Cortez—a Willow Glen resident and Santa Clara County Chapter President of the National Latino Peace Officers' Association—said that the community came together after the school fire, especially the Latino community. "We're tightly knit," he said.

Carruth said that going back to help after the fire was rewarding because as an arson investigator he witnesses the devastation, rather than the rebuilding.

San Jose Unified School District Director of Elementary Education Rosa Molina said the gesture towards the school was like a "big hug" from the community.

Gardner Academy resource teacher Maureen Hansen said that the students have been resilient after losing the main building to arson, but "sometimes they'll stop and stare at it."

And San Jose Firefighter Alberto Olmos said that after such a "traumatizing event, we want to bring back the holiday smiles and joy."

Hansen said a few classes were selected to receive the toys from firefighters and carry them to a room where they would be stored and wrapped and given to needy families.

The children were excited when they saw the firefighters unloading the toys, racing up to help carry the presents back to the school

"I was happy because the firefighters came and they told us we're not alone," said fourth-grader Jennifer De La Torre.