The spirit of Christmas came to Martins Ferry on Friday in the form of toys to bring joy to some of the youngest residents of our community.

Beginning at 12:30 p.m. that day, The Times Leader office opened its doors to families with children age 10 and younger. At least an hour before we began to welcome them inside, people lined up on the sidewalk along Fourth Street, waiting for the opportunity to acquire some holiday gifts for the youngsters.

As the children came inside, they were greeted by a familiar and jolly fellow, Santa (Mike Slenski). Each child had the chance to tell Santa Claus what they would like to find beneath their tree on Christmas morning. He gave them each a stuffed holiday figure and shared some good advice and other lessons with them.

Next it was off to “Times Leader Toyland,” where little ones got to choose a couple of toys apiece as well as a puzzle to enjoy.

It was interesting to watch as the children entered the room. Some were a bit overwhelmed by the selection. Others were very particular, making sure to take it all in before making any choices.

And while a few were a bit overzealous and had to be limited in the choices by their parents, a couple of kids generously declined to take more than one thing, saying they would leave the rest of the toys for others who might want them.

Some parents and grandparents accompanied just one little one, others had lively groups of four and five kiddos to look after. But despite the fact that a few new mothers and fathers looked exhausted as they carried their infants around the room while watching their older children pick out toys, everyone I encountered was polite and grateful, and I believe each and every individual I spoke to thanked us for the gifts and wished me a merry Christmas.

We were able to provide this free toy giveaway because of the generosity of people from all walks of life and from all across our region. The toys were provided to our office by the local agencies that organized Operation Toy Lift, held earlier this month at the Ohio Valley Mall in St. Clairsville.

Sponsored by the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley, the Belmont County Sheriff’s Department and Wheeling Police Department, the toy lift involves local “celebrities” being lifted high in the air above the mall’s parking lot, waving and working to attract passersby to stop and donate new, unwrapped gifts for kids. This year, American Electric Power provided the trucks that lifted volunteers into the air.

The United way determines which families it serves can benefit from some of those toys and distributes them accordingly. Any toys that are left over are then handed out at the newspaper’s office on a first-come, first-served basis.

It was wonderful to know on Friday that we were helping to bring some Christmas joy to so many local children. I don’t know how many families or kids stopped by, but we were quite busy.

Thanks to the United Way and to law enforcement officers who spearheaded the collection of all those toys, as well as to our Special Events Coordinator Joe Lovell and advertising representative Christy Hill for helping to hand out toys at our office. And thank you to each and every person who stopped to donate to Operation Toy Lift and to those who made monetary contributions to the effort.

I hope the folks who visited us Friday — and all of you — have a merry Christmas!