Families started lining up at the Durham Salvation Army before 9:00a.m. Wednesday morning. There was a steady stream of people all day long,all for a chance at tables full of toys. up.It's a lot of work, but they say all you have to do is see the smiles onparents' faces to realize how much it's worth.
Antoinette Karnegay is a single working mom raising four kids. There's nomoney left for Christmas. She tells her children she's doing her best.Karnegay knows the kids are hoping Santa will bring what they want.
Salvation Army Director Charles Powell says there's nothing moreheartbreaking for a parent than to not be able to do something special fortheir kids at christmas time. That's why the Salvation Army helpslow-income families by giving away toys.
Karnegay says she was very excited to get the letter that she had beenselected for the toy giveaway. She even cried. To Karnegay, the toys area blessing.
Joe Kreidler admits Christmas had to be put on the back burner in hisfamily. He's glad the toy giveaway will put a few more toys under thetree.
Dozens of volunteers make the program work, but they say what they give,they get back tenfold.
"We were stopped coming up the walkway, and the lady said 'are you cominghere to work,'" volunteer Sharon Craun explains. "She said I want tothank you guys. You made a difference in our Christmas. It made us feel really good."
Each parent got to pick out two gifts and a stocking stuffer for eachchild. There were also hundreds of gifts from an angel tree donated bymembers of the community for each family. So, a lot of people walked outof the building with more gifts than they could carry. They were justoverwhelmed. You could see it on their faces.
In total, the Salvation Army in Durham will help 1000 families in the areaover the holidays.
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