ERWIN, NY (WENY) -- People braved the frigid temperatures Saturday morning, to help make the holidays a little brighter for local kids.

The Steuben County Sheriff's Office was set up outside the Walmart in Erwin, in partnership with Toys for Tots. The sheriff's office is also hosting its "Fill the Patrol Car with Coats for Kids" drive. From 10AM until noon, deputies collected donations of new toys, as well as new and gently used coats, that will be distributed to kids in need across Steuben County. Steadily, people stopped by the car to drop off toys and winter clothing purchased at Walmart, from action figures and games, to bicycles. 

The Sheriff's Office has been doing this program for five years, and say it continues to grow. Sheriff Jim Allard said doing these types of events help the community, but also show law enforcement in a different light. 

"I think it’s important on a couple of different levels. One, it helps everybody see us give back to the community, it’s a good feeling. The deputies that are here today, they have a good time, there’s a lot of laughter and it's just; we’re here to serve the public, not just in the criminal justice fashion, but also as public servants for the county. So I think it’s good for people to see us in both venues," Sheriff Allard said. 

For those who could not attend Saturday's event, there are still ways to help. 

"You can continue to give to Toys for Tots right up until Christmas, you can look for the boxes at the various retail centers throughout the county, and we'll continue collecting coats at our office. If you have some gently used or new coats for school aged children, call us and we'll come grab them," Allard said. 

The Sheriff's Office also has Toys for Tots drop box at the county Public Safety Building at 7007 Rumsey Street Extension in Bath. The toys will be delivered in time for Christmas, while the coats will be distributed after the holidays to children in need across the 12 school districts in Steuben County.