Photos by Deb Gau Volunteer workers Pam Ellingson and Caitlin Redding double-check a gift list as they picked up wrapped packages for children in different age groups during Lyon County Heart To Heart distribution on Saturday.

MARSHALL — It was the season of giving – and that was just what the crew of Lyon County Heart To Heart volunteers at the National Guard Armory in Marshall were there to do.

On Saturday morning, workers with shopping carts worked their way past tables stacked with food and wrapped Christmas gifts for area families. Once the carts were filled, more volunteers waited to help carry items out to the families’ vehicles.

“It’s a good project. It gets you in the Christmas spirit,” one volunteer said.

Saturday was distribution day for Heart To Heart. It marked the organization’s 36th year of helping provide holiday meals and gifts for area families in need, Heart To Heart founder Brad Strootman said. Strootman told volunteers they anticipated helping about 400 people on Saturday, and deliveries were made to 134 households on Friday.

“With everything going on around us, I’m glad that we’re here and can help those who need it,” said Denise Schneekloth, of Lyon County Heart to Heart.

The workers gathered at the Armory on Saturday included a mix of new and returning volunteers. A group of Grace Life Church members said they like to come and help with Heart To Heart every year. Volunteer Caitlin Redding said she had helped with Heart To Heart in the past, but this was her first year volunteering on distribution day.

Among the new volunteers working at distribution day were a group of Avera Marshall employees. The group had been looking for opportunities to volunteer, they said.

“It’s nice to be able to go out and do things in the community,” said Debbie Streier. Streier, the regional president and CEO for Avera Marshall, was among the volunteers filling shopping carts for area families that morning.

Community support is key for Heart To Heart’s mission, organizers said. It took contributions and volunteer work from area residents, businesses, community groups and more to make it possible to distribute food and gifts every year.

“The community steps up every year,” Schneekloth said. “The volunteers this week have been incredible.”

“Thank you for what you do for the community,” Strootman told volunteers Saturday.