Charity Overwhelmed By Response To Christmas Basket Giveaway

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – Tempers flared early Saturday morning after hundreds of families were turned away from a charity despite standing in line for hours for a Christmas basket with food and gifts for kids.

Families began lining up outside the Francis House in Sacramento around midnight, bundled up against the cold rain and hoping to get a ticket for one of the 200 tickets for the holiday giveaway.

After hours of waiting, the crowd learned that all 200 tickets were handed out Friday morning, nearly 24 hours earlier. The notice describing the giveaway said sign-ups would begin at 9:00 a.m. Saturday.

Francis House spokesman Michael Miller said volunteers weren't anticipating such a large crowd and said they planned to try raising enough money for gifts for everyone who waited in line.

"We have to do something about it. You can't say no to these families," Miller said. "How do you not want to help these children?"