'They need love': 40 metro families in need receive presents for holidays

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – A local construction company, its partners, and the general manager of the University of Oklahoma's football team pulled off a Christmas present event Monday for families who may not have been able to celebrate otherwise.

The event was held at B&H construction's Oklahoma City location. Organizers say the event started eight years ago with just a few families, and that plans this year were to include 12 families. The events typically include presents for each child in each household. The families are selected by local school counselors, and organizers receive lists of things each child wants.

"We get a list of what they want," said B&H supervisor Shawn Wilson. "Pants size, shirt size, shoe size, favorite color and a toy that they want."

Wilson says things were different this year. After 12 weeks of planning for shopping and the event itself, he said he received a call from the University of Oklahoma's General Manager, Curtis Lofton, asking what he thought about increasing the number of families.

"When I played for the Sooners, my number was 40," said Lofton, explaining why the number was changed from 12 to 40.

Wilson estimates around $50,000 was spent to shop for hundreds of presents, each child receiving a total of 10 presents each. Wilson says it's been a tough year for a lot of people, and every dollar spent was well-worth it.

"Changing lives is what we want to do," said Wilson.

Lofton says he sees the gesture as an act of kindness he hopes will lead to a trickle down effect, encouraging the families helped and Oklahomans with giving hearts to do more to help their fellow neighbors.

"They need hope," said Lofton. "They need love, and that's what we're out here spreading."

Wilson says the effort took 62 volunteers to pull off and organizers are hoping to go bigger and better next year if their budget allows it.

News 4 spoke with one woman on Monday who said her mother was grateful for the effort to help her family.

"It lifts a really big weight off of her shoulders, not having to stress as much about getting gifts for my little brothers and sisters," said Monica Centeno.