Hundreds of Rockmart area children are going to get a Christmas thanks to a local company.

The employees of the Meggitt Polymers and Composites organized their Christmas charity drive for the third year in a row and this one proved to be even more generous than those in previous years, according to organizers.

Company employees joined with Floyd EMS and Toys for Tots for this year’s campaign.

The result of the Meggitt Uniformed Toy Drive was almost 400 toys and $2,750 going to the Christmas Is For Kids charity.

“The generosity of these folks continues to amaze me,” said organizer Sgt. Andy Schwake, “and we all enjoy giving back to the community.”

Schwake said the one difference this year is employees are expecting the fundraiser, so they are now planning for it and even pooling resources to get more expensive items like bikes and electronics for older children.

“The value of the toys has increased. The amount of the cash has increased,” he said.

Schwake said both company and the employees of Meggitt have been faithful in support of this effort even in the worst part of the bad economy.

“It’s the nature of the people here at Meggitt,” he said, adding that it couldn’t be done without company support as well because the fundraising is done during work hours.

“They have wholeheartedly supported us in doing this,” he said.

Rockmart Police Chief Keith Sorrells accepted the donation on behalf of Christmas Is For Kids.

While this is the first year this charity has gotten holiday help from Meggitt employees, Sorrells said the charity assisted around 250 families in Rockmart and Aragon last Christmas.

“This is going to be huge for our program,” Sorrells said. “When you start tallying the expense of 400 toys, plus more than $2,600 cash, that’s going to help a lot of families in Rockmart and Aragon.”

He said the charity provides Christmas toys to children ages two to 12. Sorrells said the more expensive toys, like bikes and fishing rods, are going to be welcomed by some of the older children.

The money will help provide for some more costly items older children dream of also, he said.

“It’s hard to find things for kids nine to 12. They want electronics and stuff like that and it’s a lot harder to find things they will like,” he said.

Sorrells said families assisted in the program are “extremely grateful” for the help.

“It’s all about the kids. We just don’t like to think of a kid waking up on Christmas morning and not having something. A lot of families are having a lot of problems right now. Everyone knows that,” he said.