Santa Joe's 10th Annual Toy Giveaway

The gathering drew over 300 families, some who were first time participants due to COVID-19 pandemic challenges..

Now.

Good evening i'm chris mullooly thanks for joining us.

Tonight -- hundreds of families here in fort wayne getting a little help in the form of a gift.a christmas toy giveaway giving out over three hundred toys..

At a time where families are still struggling.

Fox 55's mallory beard talked to families that braved the cold to make sure their little ones have toys come christmas.

3 joe runyon, known to many as santa joe, monitors the line outside his house to make sure people are socially distanced ?

"six feet apart"?...but still in good spirits ?nats?

Joe runyon//toy giveaway organizer"it brings joy to my heart to see the kids smile."

Runyon says the covid-19 pandemic wasn't going to stop his tenth annual christmas toy giveaway.

Joe runyon//toy giveaway organizer "i was once a kid that didn't have toys for christmas so i know what it feels like."

The runyon family and volunteers packed ?nats?

Over three hundred gift bags for parents to give to their children.

Stacey bates//toy giveaway participant "the virus has taken a toll on a lot of us, especially with us not having jobs, losing jobs."

Stacey bates says the pandemic has taken a toll on her family, but the toy giveaway is bringing hope to the holiday season.

Stacey bates//toy giveaway participant "so financially, a lot of us have never had to do this before, so it's a blessing that people like this are out here and willing to help us, and not ask for anything in return."

Jennifer bixler agrees.the pandemic has been tough.

She encourages families to be thankful.

Jennifer bixler//toy giveaway participant "i'm so glad that they have things like this and we have to count our blessings because we never know when we're going to...go."

But now families get to go home with a little more hope than what they came with.

?nats?

Joe runyon//toy giveaway organizer "and everybody needs love.

Especially at christmastime, not only at christmastime, but all the time."

In fort wayne, i'm mallory beard.

Fox 55 news.

Toy giveaway organizer joe runyon says he plans for the event to return to parkview field where it's been held for the last six years.

If you'd like more information on upcoming toy giveaways, see this story on our website for the