Salvation Army of Milwaukee County to provide toys for thousands of children this Christmas

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Thousands of local kids from families in need will get a visit from Santa this coming weekend. 

The Salvation Army has been making sure of that over the last few days.

Monday, Dec. 20, was the last day for the army's annual toy shop distribution.

This is where families could sign up to get new toys for their kids, free of charge.

Each parent got two toys for every child, plus one stuffed animal, one book and one game or puzzle per family.

We've shown you the Salvation Army's toy shop in past years, when parents could walk through a room full of toys. 

This year, thanks to Covid, they couldn't do that. So they came up with an alternate system for picking toys.

"As the families signed up, we asked them -- on a wish list -- to kind of give us an idea of what those children would like, if it's specific, so those kind of things. So we'd kind of be helpful when those toys get donated or purchased, and as those volunteers come in, they're able to put those in the boxes for them," said Major Steven Woodard, Milwaukee County coordinator, Salvation Army. 

The parents picked up pre-packaged boxes. Major Woodard tells us there were enough toys for 6,600 kids. 

He says if there are still families who need help providing Christmas for their kids, they should contact the Salvation Army.