GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The first car arrived at the Clay County Fairgrounds for the J.P. Hall Children’s Charities Christmas Party at 5 p.m. Friday – 16 hours before the gates opened for the 40th annual toy giveaway to local children.

Whether out of desperation or the need to be in and out quickly ahead of a work shift, hundreds of cars packed the back parking lot by daybreak, and children, most still in pajamas, were waking up to the reality of having gifts under the tree on Christmas morning.

“Even if one kid gets a Christmas gift who normally wouldn’t, it’s a success,” said charity president J.P. Steinmezt.

More than 1,000 children got a stuffed animal and four large toys. All were broken down by ages and whether they were for a boy or a girl. And half of the children could pick a bicycle from a selection of more than 650.

“We gave away 500 bikes,” Steinmezt said. “Every child that wanted a bike, got one. The ones who didn’t get a bike didn’t want one – whether it was because they already had a bike or they didn’t have room for it.”

Like a year ago, toys were given away in a drive-thru format. Numbers were written on the front windshield 100 yards away from the pickup point inside the Cattleman’s Arena. Volunteers then radioed the specific needs for that car. When the car got inside the arena, they were met by volunteers, including Santa Claus and Teresa Oliverio, who was working her 39th Christmas Party, each child could pick from a large assortment of new stuffed animals. From there, they pulled up where other volunteers already had gifts bagged for each child. From there, parents had the option to leave, or pull over to another building to pick out a bicycle.

“I think the big thing was to see a child’s face when they got close, especially when they got the plush toy,” Steinmezt said. “Our numbers this year matched 2018, so it was a big success.”

The volunteers also assured success. Green Cove Springs City Councilman Van Royal donated his time, along with members of the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, including Sheriff Michelle Cook, Clay County Fire and Rescue, Orange Park United Methodist Church and other longtime members of the charitable organization.

The event was open form children from newborn thru 14 years old, but free clothing from the Orange Park Clothes Closet was available for the entire family.

The only requirement was proof of residency in Clay County. There was no paperwork or signup necessary.

“In a perfect world, we wouldn’t need this,” Steinmezt said. “But until we get to that point, we will be here.”