This little town of 600 + that I live in collects as much as $3500 in donations for Christmas. Then the Council has a special meeting to distribute, based on personal knowledge of a family's situation, information from the churches and schools. Usually the family gets the cash and a complete Christmas dinner box. We don't distribute toys, but each family gets plenty of cash and grocery store gift certificates to have a wonderful Christmas. In some cases if the family is behind on their water/sewer/trash bill, we also pay that for them. So the town is very generous.
Two years ago we were all saving like crazy to get Kendra a gait trainer, which is a special kind of walker for kids with her unique issues. The kids' insurance would not pay for one because they figured they'd already provided "mobility" for her by covering the wheelchair so our family started a "Kendra Kitty" to get enough saved up. One of my fellow council members lives two houses down and Kendra has him wrapped around her little finger. So when the kids' names came up for distribution, I recused myself and went outside while they voted. It wasn't necessary, but I didn't feel right being on the council that was choosing how to help them. Well, this wonderful little town BOUGHT Kendra's gait trainer. Yep. Small towns are the best!