OTTUMWA, IOWA -- Hundreds of underprivileged children will have Christmas gifts this year thanks to Operation Sparky Claus.

The program is sponsored by the Ottumwa Fire Department. People from the community have been encouraged to drop off unwrapped toys at either fire station. Those toys are then donated to charities in the community, who then distribute them to children in need.

"It's gone way better than we imagined. We've gotten so many toys from the public, and everybody has had a great out-pouring of support for us. Some of the charities we gave gifts to are the Women's Crisis Center, SIEDA, The Salvation Army, and The Working Man's Christmas," said Firefighter Josh Chance of the Ottumwa Fire Department.

The fire department is still collecting toys through December 20th. Firefighters are asking that if anyone has donations to take them to the central fire station.

"Basically we were just a collection point for people. Many of the fireman brought in toys too. But we were basically a collection point and we distributed them to the other charities that got them out to the kids," said Chance.