SARANAC LAKE — It took three trucks to move all the donated children’s gifts.

That’s how successful the Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department’s annual toy drive was Saturday. The presents poured into the firehouse in the four hours between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., piling up around a lit Christmas tree placed in between fire trucks. The gifts all went to Holiday Helpers, which distributes them to local children in need.

Volunteers had removed cots and equipment from two rescue trucks to make room to haul the presents, but they didn’t all fit. A volunteer’s personal pickup truck had to be used as well to take the gifts over to Holiday Helpers distribution center at North Star Industries.

“Once again the community has come together to ensure 203 children from 96 families will have a very merry Christmas indeed,” said Patti Ploof, who co-chairs Holiday Helpers along with Dawn Rogers. “From the littlest elves to the adult groups — it’s so great to see everyone bringing in toys to help a child in need. We are forever grateful to the SLVFD for hosting this toy drive. What an amazing group — not only for making us feel so welcome and feeding us (Thanks Eva Stinson), but all the lifting and moving of the toys from the firehouse to our distribution site. Holiday Helpers only exists because of our community’s generosity!”