More than 30 volunteers of all ages gathered to assist in the distribution of toys to Riverbank families who might not otherwise have a Christmas celebration in their homes.

Darlene Barber-Martinez, CEO, and other board members of Central Valley Community Resources, with the help of other groups distributed the Toys For Tots to local families who had pre-registered. The event was held at Cardozo Middle School on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 19. The toys had been collected at donation stations around Riverbank.

Earlier in the day, the volunteers bagged up the toys by family, and when the recipients arrived, they received the full bags, then moved to a group of tables on the side of the room where they picked out a couple of stocking stuffers per child.

The families also received tickets to use for the drawings that were held at the end of the day, giving away a boy’s bike, a girl’s bike and a Christmas tree to the winners.

Barber-Martinez said many local groups helped make the event a success, with more than two dozen volunteers from other community organizations assisting. They included Community Praise Tabernacle, Casa del Rio, Girl Scouts from Troops 3509, 3433 and 258, Boy Scouts from troop 1100. Also helping were members of the Valley Improvement Project, the Riverbank Chamber of Commerce, Riverbank High School and Santa and his helper.