The Warrior Warehouse on Fort Carson started filling up with toys Friday morning, ahead of the large annual Christmas giveaway planned in mid-December. 

The warehouse gave toys to 700 families on post last year, serving about 1,600 children from infants to teenagers, said Donna Swanson, who runs the nonprofit. 

On Thursday, Swanson waited for an hour and a half as a cashier rang up the first major purchase of toys for the season. Those same toys arrived at the warehouse in soldiers’ backpacks on Friday morning as festive live music played during a Reindeer Ruck.

Rate, a mortgage company, was one of the main sponsors of the march that delivered toys that added up to a retail value of $6,500, said Yvonne Coombs, the business’ director of military outreach. Coombs expects Rate will sponsor 11 donation events at bases across the country this holiday season. 

“It is just fun to see people’s eyes light up,” she said. 

Some ruck march participants showed up in festive sweaters and santa hats. 

“It is just a fun warm feel-good thing to do,” she said. ”…We are going to be helping military families have smiles on Christmas morning.” 

The Association of the U.S. Army also helped sponsor the event and Coombs, who is a board member of the local chapter, expects the group will purchase additional gifts during a second round of shopping later. 

Swanson is also hopeful more toys will come in from the community as part of a benefit planned Thursday at the Hilton Garden Inn. Swanson encouraged residents to buy for the age group that speaks to them — if they have an inspired gift idea for a teenager, she wants people to pursue that. 

She also noted that last year, the warehouse ran a bit low on toys for infants. 

“We have a lot of young soldiers, with a lot of young children,” she said. 

In addition to relying on direct donations, the warehouse also receives support from Toys for Tots.

It’s an outreach that’s gained a good reputation over the years, and she’s been stopped in stores by people who give her cash for toys, she said. 

The toys go out first to soldiers who are recovering from injury or illness, then junior enlisted soldiers and then the giveaway is open to all active-duty soldiers in need, she said. It opens to all active-duty soldiers in need on Dec. 10 and 11. 

Throughout the year, the nonprofit distributes food and supplies to soldiers for babies on a referral basis. Those referrals can come from leadership, such as commanders or chaplains, Swanson said.

Through September and October, the pantry saw a slight uptick in need and Swanson has also saw donations to help meet that need. 

The food goes out the door in boxes packed for a family of four with staples like spaghetti, Hamburger Helper, and cans of vegetables, she said.

The warehouse can help a family twice a year, so Swanson also refers those in need on to other organizations that can provide assistance.

To donate, residents are welcome to drop off unwrapped toys between 5:30 and 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at the the Hilton Garden Inn on 1810 Briargate Parkway. Those who donate receive a free drink ticket.