Without The Salvation Army Christmas Toy Shop, many area families wouldn’t be able to celebrate Christmas.

Lixel Barnhill, medical assistant at Health Care Access Clinic, loaded a cart with toys Thursday at the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds for her sons, ages 17 and 9, who have cerebral palsy.

“It’s a blessing,” she said. “Otherwise, my family wouldn’t be able to afford to do all the Christmas shopping.”

The annual toy shop is provided by The Salvation Army and Toys for Tots to provide low-income families with gifts and a holiday meal gift certificate. Families pre-applied to participate and the shop will be open until Saturday.

Salvation Army Lt. Wes Dalberg said 260 families will be served this year, compared with 179 last year.

Bob Kolars, 71, was one of many volunteers helping families find items Thursday. He said he has volunteered with The Salvation Army for decades. He helped Barnhill find toys that could be visually stimulating for her sons.

“A lot of people are really hurting this year and it seems to be growing each year,” Kolars said.

This was the second year Barnhill visited the toy shop. She said each year it becomes harder to support her family.

“With my children with CP it kind of makes it hard because we have to miss a lot of work or we don’t have jobs at the time because of all the hospital visits,” she said. “It becomes really difficult, especially around the holidays.”

Families who haven’t pre-registered for the toy shop may call Mary Jones, coordinator for Douglas County Toys for Tots, at 766-3023 or The Salvation Army at 843-4188.