NORTH TONAWANDA, N.Y. — This year's holiday season won't be the same as years past, but the generosity of Western New Yorkers continues.

What You Need To Know

  • Boxes of Hope were delivered to hundreds of families and children in North Tonawanda Thursday

  • Recipients will receive food and gifts

  • North Tonawanda Police and firefighters helped out this year

"I think it's special during these times to help out when you can," said Jeremy Batt, a North Tonawanda firefighter.

In a year plagued by a pandemic, it only makes sense for Christmas to come early for those in need.

"The season has hit everyone hard, not just people that live in poverty, it's everyone who's struggling right now," said Chad Rieselman, lead pastor at Lumber City Church.

Lumber City Church teamed up with North Tonawanda Police, the city's fire department, and volunteers from the community to deliver Boxes of Hope to hundreds of families in North Tonawanda.

"They're going to be receiving a delivery of a box of food and a gift for every child in the household up to 18 years old. They've enrolled and then folks from the community sponsor them, they go buy those gifts, wrap them, they get the food together and we deliver that all within a few hours," said Rieselman.

But it's more than food and gifts. This shows what can happen when people come together to make a difference. 

"One lady looked at me and she saw NTPD and she's like did something happen but then she was like oh no this is great thank you so they're very appreciative," said Thomas Krantz, North Tonawanda's police chief.

Even though these holidays are a bit different, the Boxes of Hope are reminding the community of the magic of the season.

"A lot of the families, even here in North Tonawanda they struggle but this year particularly there's just a tremendous stress on everybody and especially on some of those families and stuff so I think it's definitely going to help them," Krantz said.