Christmas Comes Early For City Kids At Coat And Toys Drive

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- It's the season of giving and on Sunday, a number of kids in Baltimore received some much-needed winter items as holiday gifts.

In a packed room in the Franklin Square Community of Baltimore, there were a lot of gifts, a lot of holiday joy given out on Sunday afternoon. It was the Martin Luther King Learning and Recreation Center's Third Annual Coat and Toys Drive.

It was an event that brought out the Baltimore City Mayor Catherine Pugh, Governor Larry Hogan, and a lot of smiles.

"We're happy to be involved, and I really want to thank all the people in the community and even outside the community, that come in to help everybody in the neighborhoods," says Governor Hogan.

Kids in the community received coats, gloves, gifts, but that's not all -- the MLK Center is so much to so many, and this event gets bigger each year.

"We distribute 2,000 pounds of food every week here. We have an after-school program that is totally free," says Maurice Good, with the MLK Center.

Along with the gifts, kids were able to meet Santa, and a few of his helpers like the elves, and Batman.

It's was day these families and kids won't forget soon.  The event also served as a holiday party for the community.

The community center was revitalized by Arthur "Squeaky" Kirk, using $30,000 dollars of his own money. Since then, he's received funding and support from Governor Hogan and many others.