The local Toys For Tots program culminated for this season with a family get together over the weekend.

Hosted as Brunch with Santa, Riverbank families were invited to come to the Riverbank Community Center on Saturday morning, Dec. 21 for a bit of a meal, an opportunity to speak with Santa and Mrs. Claus, have photos taken with them, then pick up toys for the youngsters. Toys were donated during a previous community collection earlier this month.

The Toys For Tots program was begun nationally in 1947 by the Marine Corps Reserve and distributes toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas.

The organization is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit non-profit public charity.

Local volunteers who helped in organizing the toys for the Saturday event included the Stanislaus Sheriff’s STARS; students from Riverbank High School and Stanislaus State University; Promotoras Riverbank; National University; The River Church and Central Valley Community Resources.

Volunteer groups that helped with the Breakfast with Santa and toy giveaway included Scouts from Troop 1100, Riverbank Unified School District After School Advisors, National University, members of the St. Frances of Rome Church, the River Church, Riverbank High School. RHS Promotoras, RUSD, and staff from City of Riverbank.

The lead organizers of the breakfast and giveaway were members of CVCR, and they said 151 families were served.

Sponsors included Save Mart Riverbank, Cost Less Grocery Store, RUSD and the City of Riverbank.