Toys for Tots program hands out toys to needy families

HOUSTON Houston Children's Charity and the Marine Corps Reserve's Toys for Tots program handed out about 80,000 toys to needy families today at the George R. Brown Convention Center. These families applied to get the toys and stood in long lines to get something for their kids. The donated toys ranged from stuffed animals to robots, little bikes and games.

"We're able to satisfy what I hope is going to turn out to be 15,000 to 20,000 children that are going to have Christmas that they wouldn't have without this and it's just fabulous," said Don Henderson of Houston Children's Charity.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker praised the effort.

"This is a wonderful public-private collaboration that all comes together in benefit of needy children in Houston," the mayor said.

In 2009, the Marine Corps Reserve's Toys for Tots program distributed gifts to 7.4 million children in 691 communities in the Houston area and across the nation.