This holiday season, hundreds of area families will have a brighter Christmas and it's all thanks your generous donations.

The Middleton Outreach Ministry organized another massive effort this year to help get presents for underprivileged children. It's part of their Sharing Christmas program.

The donations came pouring in and volunteers and some less fortunate families couldn't be happier.

“This program has been a godsend for us,”

Linda Peterson has been a part of this program for the past 15 years.

“As a mom of six kids, I was in need of a program like this,” she said.

It's moms like Linda who reach out to this M.O.M., the Middleton Outreach Ministry. The program aims to help people like Linda; people who might not be able to afford to put presents under the tree.

“We serve a lot of people who don't know if they are going to be able to keep a roof over their head or food on their table,” said Judy Kujoth, a social worker with M.O.M.

“Many of them who have called said we have already told our kids there isn't going to be Christmas this year because we can't afford it,”
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Workers at M.O.M. say the need was great this holiday season but they also say the community came through with their donations in a big way.

“It's really heartwarming and it really sort of renews your faith in mankind and people are just extremely generous,” said Kujoth.

This year, the non-profit organization collected more than $80,000 worth of gifts, bringing holiday joy to nearly 475 area families.

“People were so generous that we actually were able to serve everyone who was on our waiting list,”

And it's people like the Seversons who keep M.O.M. going.

“We feel extremely lucky,” said Linda Severson.

Linda and her husband Scott and daughter Rachel stopped by the office to make a cash donation.

“We are incredibly lucky and fortunate for all the things we have from a tangible perspective and intangible,” said Scott.

“And we just wanna make people happy and again, we are very fortunate to have what we have and we would like to help other people as well,” said an emotional Linda.

Linda Peterson didn't ask for much this year

“I did ask for some frying pans and some yarn,” she chuckles.
But she's just glad there's a program like M.O.M. to help her have a happy holiday.

“We look forward to working with them next year because we are doing it again,” said Kujoth.

The donations will help roughly 1,600 people in need and workers say 900 of those are children.

M.O.M. needs help year round. To find out how you can donate, visit momhelps.org.