The Poverello House handed out thousands of toys to local children in need

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A local organization handed out 3,000 toys Christmas morning to children in need.

For more than 20 years the Poverello House has opened its doors on Christmas day. "As you see the families outside, you see them in their blankets-- they're huddling up with their families because they are so excited to get that toy," said Cruz Avila, Poverello House Executive Director.

Every year the non-profit serves warm meals and passes out thousands of wrapped presents. They give to kids who likely won't get anything else. For volunteers like Ed Lujano and his family-- this day has special meaning. "We've been doing this for many years and you see a lot more families coming in, as opposed to individuals, and you really feel the blessings we have as our own family."

Thanks to generous donors this year the Poverello House got more presents than needed. So when kids came through this line they got a bundle of gifts to take home. Harry Fayter and his adopted family are among the grateful recipients in the long line. "I've been blessed to have a great upbringing and lucky enough to have experienced things, and these kids have not, so I picked them up and said lets go."

The majority of the people served were children and teenagers.

According to the Poverello House website, one-in-four homeless people are children. "Seeing this today, and how big the line was-- they were lining up here at 4:30 this morning-- kind of gives you an idea of what's going out there," said Fayter.

But fortunately, there's a group of giving people to make sure no one goes home empty handed.