SHAMOKIN, Pa. — Cars lined up around the block for the Salvation Army of Sunbury and Shamokin's holiday distribution on Monday.
Around 400 families received a box of food and bags of toys at the site in Shamokin.
"It's very nice. I've had a lot of medical issues lately, and I've been out of work, so it's helping give my kids a Christmas," Joshua Heller of Mount Carmel said.
"It is amazing. The Salvation Army has been helping us for years. There was a time when I would equally stand and help them get donations at Walmart, but it's amazing that they can help so many people," said Justine Raffensperger of Coal Township.
Students from Shamokin Area High School carried the toys, while other volunteers organized the food.
Last week, we told you about a lack of donations of hams for this giveaway. After many of you saw that story, you came through in a big way.
Each of the 400 families gets at least one ham, depending on the size of the family. When Newswatch 16 stopped by last week, there was only enough money for 134 hams.
"By 5 p.m. when it aired, I got a call from Irish Isle that the phones were blowing up. We got a $700 donation, $700 donation, $1,000 donation," said Brian Persing, the Salvation Army's Food Drive chair.
Persing says currently they have more than 600 hams, which means a lot of people will have a Merry Christmas.
"They always seem to step up to the plate. Always. They never let this down, never," Persing said.
"It really is a community effort from the person ringing the bell at our kettles from the person donating at those kettles, donating those toys or the many volunteers you see here today," Judy Orner said.
The additional hams will be used throughout the year for other giveaways for the Salvation Army.