Donated toys are gathered Saturday at the Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department. (Photo provided — Eva Stinson)

SARANAC LAKE — By the end of Saturday, a small mountain of toys had filled up part of one bay in the firehouse on Broadway.

Local residents came up big for Holiday Helpers, donating dozens and dozens of new toys for needy kids during the Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department’s annual toy drive.

“We had small children bringing toys in today, as well as two young ones handing me several $1 bills and a handful of quarters,” Holiday Helpers coordinator Patti Ploof wrote in a news release posted on the fire department’s website. “Brought me to tears. We also had several people drop toys off who have previously been on the receiving end of our services. They are now able to pay it forward. Truly a day to remember!”

The fire department has hosted a Holiday Helpers toy drive several years running, and this is the most toys it’s ever collected.

“Many individual folks from the community and many organizations graciously gave, and we could not feel better about being a part of this effort,” reads the department’s release. “We are truly moved by the generosity of our community.”

Some of the agencies and organizations that collected and donated toys include the fire department, the Saranac Lake Volunteer Rescue Squad, the New York State Police, the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the Saranac Lake Post Office.

Holiday Helpers will ensure the toys are delivered to needy kids. It’s already had close to 200 applications for the program, according to the release.

Contributions to Holiday Helpers can be made to P.O. Box 543, Saranac Lake, NY 12983, or by contacting Ploof at 518-891-0037.