Dec. 24 -- ANDERSON -- Families lined up in the parking lot of New Horizons United Methodist Church about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday on Christmas Eve in hopes of finding toys and books to match their little ones' tastes.
When the doors were opened about an hour later for Turn Away No Longer's Magical Christmas Eve event, scores of people dashed from the sanctuary foyer to the gym area where a bonanza of toys awaited.
"People were bringing us truckloads of toys (by way of other events), so, we had tons left over," said Tracey Walters, founder and director of Turn Away No Longer along with her husband, Jeremiah.
"I thought, 'Why put it in storage, when we could bless 1,000 more kids?'"
Turn Away No Longer provides support for children in foster care and their families.
About 500 families attended the Christmas Eve event within its first hour, Walters estimated. Many more would arrive by the 3 p.m. conclusion.
Each child picked at least one toy or book. Those gifts would need to be wrapped, so families took their pick of abundant wrapping paper before leaving the building.
Toys weren't the only attractions at the event. Families formed a long line along the gym's outer wall, where they waited to have their picture taken with Santa.
Volunteers from Turn Away No Longer and New Horizons helped families pick out gifts and navigate waiting lines.
Tracey Walters' daughter, Tarrah Young, helped families exit the Santa line.
"This community needs this," Young said. "It brings everybody together. I look around here and I see smiles."
Other volunteers included Kathy Dunn, who knows firsthand the hardships many families face. Her mother was left to raise eight young children alone after her father died of cancer at age 35.
Outside help wasn't as readily available more than 60 years ago, she said. Her mother had to find a job. She went to work at a U.S. Selective Service office, where she signed draft cards.
Her challenging upbringing coupled with her Christian faith inspires Dunn to give back to her community.
"It's such a good, fun thing to do," she said. "I believe in what Tracey is trying to do to give kids a good Christmas. It gives me a lot of peace."