TYLER — Gaylon Mason has been helping out with the Salvation Army's "Angel Tree" program for about 15 years.

He says this year there was a record 3,000 angels.

"People took angels out, bought toys for them, brought them in here, we put them in family boxes, each one of these boxes represent one family," Mason

Mason says nearly the entire room was filled up when they began distributing the boxes on Friday.  With 860 families, 900 boxes and 100 volunteers handing the boxes out to families as they drove up.

He says it's a good feeling.

"Well you're giving to somebody that needs it.  Makes you feel good in everything you do, there's a lot of hard work but you don't.  You don't concentrate on the hard work, you concentrate on what good you're doing for somebody else that needs it," Mason said.

Mason says recipients also got food and a bicycle if they asked for one.

David Bishop is a father of 3.  He lives at the Salvation Army and helps with the Angel Tree program.

His kids enjoyed their presents.

"My boys got some sports toys, football, basketball, skateboards, my daughter got a bunch of dolls and books," Bishop said.

Bishop appreciates everything the Salvation Army has done for him and his family.

"It's a blessing to me, it's a blessing to this whole neighborhood, you know, they...they give so much here, it's a beacon of hope," Bishop said.