Sacred Heart Community Service begins toy giveaway

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- A South Bay charity has begun handing out toys to thousands of needy children this morning, the most they've ever given. But, they still need more donations to meet the needs of thousands more young people and you can help.

Sacred Heart Community Service in San Jose is giving everything away to the parents of 5,800 kids in need. Each child gets two toys and one book for Christmas.

"The kids when I open the present then they go oh, mom -- I love this. You don't have to buy? Did the Sacred Heart give it to us? I appreciate it and I love it," said Maria Gonzalez, San Jose resident.

"I love the Sacred Heart," said Selena Gomez, San Jose resident.

There are 17,400 toys and books that will be given away during the appointments today and tomorrow -- the most ever by the charity. But this morning they were about 4,200 toys short of their goal. The call went out for help and people responded.

"Just giving back to our community, taking care of people who are hard on their luck right now and basically giving them a start for the New Year to prosper," said Melvin Blackwell, San Jose resident.

Close to 700 volunteers help make this toy giveaway happen from setting up the displays to fixing up and preparing the bikes for the kids.

"It's actually inspiring to us because we feel like we're not alone in the struggle to build a community free from poverty," said Poncho Guevara, Sacred Heart Community Service.

About 1,200 toys have been donated since this morning and another $8,000 in cash.