The calendar may say July, but one local charity gave away toys and games like it was Christmas today.

The Salvation Army in Eau Claire says it had a surplus of toys and kids items donated by the public, so organizers say they wanted to give a little mid-year perk to some families in need.

As families line up at the Salvation Army, they're clutching their lists and checking them twice, all to get a nice holiday-like boost in the middle of summer.

"We are getting Christmas presents in July,” says April Boyea, with her son and daughter in tow. “They get some more toys and stuff to play with.”

“I got a car thing,” says her son, Brady. “I got a race track for cars.”

Boyea says her kids not only got a treasure trove of things here, but they had an 85-dollar shopping spree each at Target this morning, thanks to the Salvation Army.

“That’s really expensive, sending the kids back to school, so the school supplies and stuff really helped out,” says Boyea

Salvation Army workers say they saw close to 80 families sign up for today's event, and say that need, not just for toys and fun things, is increasing in our area.

“Additional new cases and files are being opened every week, and I’d say probably about 10 a week now,” says Doug Peterson, the envoy at the Salvation Army.

Peterson says seeing the smile on the faces of the people he's helping is his present.

“They're pretty excited. I think the adults are just as excited as the kids,” he says.

And the kids getting that new stuffed toy or Barbie today say they couldn't be more grateful.

“Salvation Army is the best,” says Boyea’s daughter.

The Salvation Army will be giving away school supplies at its Back to School Bash. That will happen on Saturday, August 27th starting at 10 am. You're asked to call ahead to reserve a spot...but they won't turn anyone away the day of the event.