SILVER SPRING, Md. – Christmas came early Sunday for some underprivileged kids in Montgomery County.

About 2,100 people attended a holiday program at Montgomery Blair High School geared toward Silver Spring’s Latino community. Founder Joseph Malouf says the event for needy families has grown exponentially in 17 years.

“I noticed a lot of people were having a holiday that went without having a typical celebration,” Malouf says. “This year we reached out to more organizations and discovered a bigger need than we ever thought was around.”

Malouf says about 1,000 requests to attend this year’s program had to be denied. Those that were able to come received gifts like Batman cars, Barbie dolls, fire trucks and toys that promote education.

Raffle winners even had a shot at TVs and tricycles.

Malouf says this time of year can be especially hard for kids who see all the advertisements but whose families cannot afford presents.

One dad attending the event called it a “relief.”

WTOP’s Andrew Mollenbeck contributed to this report. Follow Andrew and WTOP on Twitter.

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