The Salvation Army in Santa Maria is getting help providing toys for kids in need this holiday season from the Santa Barbara County Electrical Apprenticeship Program.
Last year, the program raised more than $8,000 to purchase toys and food for the Salvation Army.
This year, they brought in more than $11,300.
"Hearing that a lot of families weren't gonna get presents for their kids this year, it was horrible for me to hear, so when I was able to take over this, I made it a mission of mine to actually reach out see these families and make sure that they were going to get to celebrate Christmas like I did when I was a kid," said Austin Arnenta, second-year apprentice with the Santa Barbara County Electrical Apprenticeship Program.
The Salvation Army will be distributing toys on December 21.
