ARNOLD, Mo. – After a fire destroyed the Salvation Army and its food pantry in Jefferson County Nov. 20, they’re pushing ahead.

Friday, a toy town program gave away toys and food for those in need.

“We started here in the mid-80s and have been doing so ever since,” Executive Director of Salvation Army in Jefferson County, Larry Hostetler, said. “It has grown as the need has grown.”

All existing toy donations in the building had to be discarded following the fire last month. The toys were expected to serve more than 200 families in need in Arnold alone, via the Angel Tree Toy Town Program.

According to Hostetler, other Salvation Army locations in Festus, De Soto, and High Ridge will also be distributing toys.

But it’s not the Frank Capra classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” where the town rallies around George Bailey. It’s the real-life residents of Arnold and Jefferson County who have come to help.

“We have all sorts of toys donated in all sorts of ways, including after the fire,” Hostetler said. “Walmart stepped up. They realized we lost some toys in the fire, so they made gifts to us to help purchase thousands of dollars’ worth of toys to help supplement what was missing.”

For now, the food pantry remains closed. The James Two project is still serving meals on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Toys and food boxes with chicken dinners donated by Schnucks Markets will help more than 150 Jefferson County families.

“As long as we have toys and coats, we give them out to those in need,” Hostetler said. “Over the next couple months, we’ll continue to do so, and in fact, toys left over will go to our food pantry once it reopens to give to children on their birthdays.”