Thousands of toys distributed for families

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Today Christmas came early for some folks in the Cape Fear.

The Salvation Army and Toys for Tots distributed thousands of gifts to families in need.

“When I found out that I was accepted I cried,” Paula Williams of Wilmington said. “I didn’t know how I was going to put a Christmas present under the tree and I didn’t know what I was going to do for my kids.”

She’s just one of many who came to pick out gifts from the thousands of toys donated to the drive.

“It’s going to put a lot of smiles on thousands of children’s faces here in the Cape Fear region.” Major Richard Watts said. “You’ve got people, who are out of work because of the hurricane, have lost their homes and people that are struggling. So if we could put a smile on their face, even if only for a few hours, well then that’s a privilege.”

In fact, the toys are the most that the Cape Fear region has ever seen.

“We’re having a record year this year. We’ve collected almost twenty-five thousand toys.” Coordinator John Gill said.

Aside from the thousands of toys donated and the hundreds of volunteers here, what makes this story so great is the families that will be happy on Christmas because of it.”

Paula and her husband are going through a hard time and didn’t think they were going to have presents for their kids.

Thanks to this event they will.

“It’s an amazing feeling. It’s a very warm feeling to know that they’re going to wake up and have a present to open up,” Williams said. “I feel truly blessed.”

She has a message to those who blessed her family.

“Just thank you. They’re helping so many people out and they don’t even get the idea of how many lives they’re changing just for doing this.”

We’d also like to thank all those who dropped off toys and gifts at the WWAY studio for this event to help so many families in need this holiday season.