A collection of Wright City community organizations and businesses found 15 different ways to test how much joy can fit in a barrel this Christmas.

That was how things appeared at a Dec. 12 gathering where barrels full of brand new toys collected by 15 local groups were brought together before being distributed to local children. The toys donated by customers, church-goers, business owners and students will be provided for children in need to have Christmas presents this year.

Participating organizations collected the donations over the course of a month before bringing barrels and bags full of dolls, toy cars, nerf blasters, balls, games and more to the Railhouse Pub in Wright City Dec. 12. The toys will be distributed through the Wright City Parents as Teachers organization.

Shelter Insurance agent Kelly Hill, one of the chief organizers for the toy drive, said she was inspired by the community’s enthusiasm for bringing joy to local families.

“It’s the spirit of Christmas. It just goes to show you there’s still so much good out there,” Hill said. “To see this much good in such a small community, where people are giving back to their own … I don’t know what to say.”

Hill was especially moved, she said, by the students of Liberty Christian Academy. Three seniors and a principal were needed to drop off all the school’s donated toys.

“When they brought in their toys, which were a barrel, bags, boxes, and two bikes, it literally made me tear up,” Hill said. “They’re a small, community school. There’s not a lot of families there. The fact that they were able to produce that much for the toy drive was just phenomenal.”

Kamie Williams with Wright City Parents as Teachers said the donated toys will be sorted and distributed to families based on wish lists submitted by parents in November.

Williams said Parents as Teachers runs an Adopt-a-Family program each year that pairs families with gift donors. But this is the first year a community-wide collection will supplement their donations, sometimes in big ways.

“There’s two bikes, and I had two families ask (for those),” Williams commented. “I told them, ‘There’s no way that you’re going to get a bike from this program.’ ” 

Now, those families will be pleasantly surprised when their wish actually comes true.”

Williams said she loves knowing all the toys will go to families in the area who have a hard time affording presents. She estimated up to 40 families, with plenty of children, will be adopted or provided gifts through Parents as Teachers and the toy drive.

Hearing the stories of some of these families, it’s hard not to want to help them. Williams commented that one local family, already living with challenging finances, took in the two children of a relative who passed away and asked for help giving them presents.

When all of those families are taken care of, Williams said some toys will probably be left over. That’s when School Resource Officer Jeff Catron will load up his vehicle with presents and “play Santa” in some of Wright City’s lower income areas, Williams said.

“That is a fun thing to do,” she expressed.