1,000 kids get toys tonight

More than a 100 volunteers are decorating Maricopa Wells Middle School and preparing gifts for 1,000 children and Christmas food boxes with either turkey or ham for tonight’s fifth F.O.R. Maricopa Christmas event.

The local food bank has been collecting toys through its Christmas tree program for the past month. Residents and businesses could pick out the names of children and what they want for Christmas on name tags adorning the trees.

Tree locations included Province, Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, several LDS churches, Walmart, Lance Lane’s State Farm office and the library.

Tonight’s 6 to 8 p.m. event will include a visit from Santa arriving by Maricopa Fire Department engine, carnival games, balloon animals, face painting, and carnival games and more. The first 350 families will get a Christmas dinner food box with either a ham or turkey.