SCRANTON -- A service organization in Scranton provides the kind of last-minute shopping you might not think about.
Close to 1,000 families will have presents for Christmas thanks to donations through United Neighborhood Centers.
It's no fancy department store, but you're sure to see a lot more smiles in this toy shop.
"This means a whole lot. This year has been a really tough year for me."
Hundreds of people lined up at United Neighborhood Centers Progressive Center. It could have been a tough year, or any other circumstance that brought them here, but they all have one thing in common: they want to provide Christmas for their kids.
One woman from Scranton was searching for the perfect gift for her 10-year-old daughter.
"Just to wake up and see her smile on her face, and her playing with her toys, and I'm doing her nails, and stuff with her. That would be a blessing."
In all, about 800 families will come through the doors receiving food, clothes, and toys donated by the community. Toys might not be an immediate need, but their effects last the longest.
"So this really keeps the children happy, makes the family happy," said Mike Hanley, United Neighborhood Centers. "It really contributes to the Christmas tradition in the household with dignity."
Volunteers for United Neighborhood Centers say the size of the line outside their building speaks to the need. Even more so, that people started forming this line hours before the distribution would even start.
"I was here at 5:00 this morning. I took my two-hour nap outside in the chair," said one woman, a mom of six.
For her, an early morning is better than the sleepless nights she's had worrying about Christmas. The wait will be well worth it.
"The smiles, the jumps, the 'yays', the twinkles in their eyes, of course, that's always the payoff. That's why I stand outside and freeze at 5:00 in the morning."