Hundreds line up in San Jose to register for holiday food, toys

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- Hundreds of people in San Jose are waiting patiently, hoping to get food and toys for their family for the holidays.

Registration is underway for Sacred Heart Community Service's annual giveaway.

The line in front of Sacred Heart Community Service started growing early Friday morning. By the time registration started at 9 a.m., it stretched more than a quarter-mile long.

Families are signing up for 7,400 turkey and food boxes and also the toy program.

The need has increased.

Two hundred more spots were made available this holiday season, so that means 6,200 kids will get three toys each and a book.

"Sacred Heart is just making a way for us to provide extra gifts and other things that we can't afford," San Jose resident Melissa Galaviz said.

Living in Silicon Valley is expensive. Many families spend up to 80 percent of their income on rent.

The holiday program helps take away the stress of the holidays for people trying to make ends meet.

San Jose residents Tieisha Warrior and Jennifer Olinger are friends. They stood in line together and told ABC7 news how grateful they are this holiday season.

"I've been out of work for 10 months. I start a new job on Monday, thank you Jesus. So I need this right now to make sure my son has a good Christmas or we wouldn't have it," Olinger said.

Much of this is made possible through the donations from the community.

Click here to help out by making a donation.