Since the 70s, Dove Inc.'s Christmas Care and Share program has supplied Christmas gifts to families across Decatur. Now, it's a collaboration between Dove Inc., the Salvation Army, Northeast Community Fund and St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - Since the 70s, Dove Inc.'s Christmas Care and Share program has supplied Christmas gifts to families across Decatur. Now, it's a collaboration between Dove Inc., the Salvation Army, Northeast Community Fund and St. Paul's Lutheran Church. 

This year, the team had a goal of gathered 18,000 toys, six for each of the 3,000 kids they intended to serve. In total, they gathered more than 20,000 toys. 

"Last week I realized I was very close to the toy count I needed, roughly a thousand toys," said Ryan Huff, marketing and communications coordinator for Dove Inc. "I put out a call for help and within 24 to 48 hours all the toys showed up." 

The event requires a lot of community support. Once toys are donated, volunteers sort through each gift, putting them in containers related to their age and gender. Volunteers also help with the family shopping process. 

"We have one parent go through the program at a time to pick out toys that their kids would like," Huff said. "We would much rather have the kids get something they're going to like and enjoy." 

The area for families is set up like a store, with shoppers able to fill their carts with toys, wrapping paper and stockings. Volunteers are on hand to help locate specific gifts, and help restock tables. 

Many parents told WAND News that without this program, they would not have been able to provide Christmas gifts for their kids this year. 

"It can be hard to understand just the emotion and what the need is, because this year's been tough on a lot of people and a lot of families," Huff said. "So whatever we can do to help bridge that gap, the families are so appreciative, of what we can do." 

Huff said this year, they are serving approximately 200 more kids than last year. 

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