City of Goodyear employees and volunteers collected, sorted and wrapped over 1,000 Christmas gifts to give to more than 50 Goodyear families in need, including 150 families with children. 

Through their annual Fill-a-Need program, Goodyear City employees loaded several trucks full of donated holiday gifts including clothing, shoes, household items, toys, bicycles and nonperishable food to deliver to local families.

City employees began their work on the Fill-a-Need program back in October when they started collecting donations of Christmas gifts and monetary donations while accepting applications from Goodyear families in need. 

According to the county, since the Fill-a-Need program began 15 years ago, over 600 Goodyear families and nearly 800 children have been able to have a brighter holiday because of the donations. 

The program, which is solely funded by city employees, local businesses and community group donations, has expanded over the years to meet the community's growth. The expansion of the Fill-a-Need program included support to serve the Agua Fria Food Bank and the Southwest Phoenix Children's Hospital. 

Many of the families who benefit from the Fill-a-Need program are dealing with issues such as injury, illness, loss of employment, abandonment or loss of a loved-one.