Photo by Shelley Hanson People begin to file into the basement of the North Wheeling Dream Center for the Christmas Food Basket Giveaway on Saturday in North Wheeling.

WHEELING – Children gleefully picked out new Barbies, Hot Wheels tracks, bicycles and more during the 33rd annual Christmas Food Basket Giveaway at the North Wheeling Dream Center on Saturday.

As she looked at the box full of toys she picked out, one girl said, “I got too much.” But there were several hundred toys for children to choose from with each being allowed to pick out up to six items.

The children received help picking out and carrying the toys from volunteers with the local International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department and more. Many volunteers, including those from the Wheeling Fire Department, also showed up to help distribute food to make a nice Christmas dinner.

Prior to the giveaway, Suff. Bishop Darrell Cummings, pastor of Bethlehem Apostolic Temple, said there were hundreds of people in line, some waiting since 6 a.m.

“Some have been out there since 6 a.m. – not that we require that but that’s their choice,” he said to the volunteers before the giveaway. “Some may come in angry. Some may come in upset. Please don’t take it personally.

“One of the things I say at church is that hurt people, hurt people. The reason they want to hurt people is because they are hurt.

“But here’s the good news – healed people, heal people,” he continued. “People who feel better are going to make other people feel better. So help them feel better; don’t take anything they say personally.”

Cummings thanked the volunteers for helping make the distribution happen.

“You’re all angels because angels show the love of God, and that’s what I believe you are doing.”

During the giveaway, Cummings noted there were many more toys this year thanks to donations from the local Toys for Tots campaign.

“We worked with them 30 years ago and they left the area and we’re glad to have them back,” he said.