For the 19th straight year, the Coming Together Organization (CTO) handed out toys to needy families at the Demopolis Housing Authority. On Sunday, some 108 families took advantage of the annual toy drive.

“This is the distribution part of our annual Give a Child a Wish project,” said CTO president Willard Williams. “Last month, we had people fill out applications to receive the toys. Those who qualify are able to get one toy per child.”

Donations were made by New Era Caps, Wal-Mart, RockTenn, Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital and others.

“A lot of local merchants and vendors helped to make this possible,” Williams said.

“It was a tremendous community involvement.”

One by one, applicants came into the DHA recreation building where toys and games were stacked on top of several tables.

Bicycles that had been assembled by CTO members the night before filled the kitchen area of the recreation building.

“This is really nice for the kids,” said Yolanda McIntosh, one of the applicants. “For some kids, this will probably be the only toys that they get for Christmas this season.”