Hundreds line up in Edmonton to deliver presents for Santas Anonymous

Hundreds of people lined up in the frigid, sub-zero temperatures to help deliver toys for Santas Anonymous.

The first person in line, Dustin Koenig, has been the first person every year for the last few years. He brought his daughters Natalie, 8, and Samantha, 17, along to help on Saturday morning.

Koenig arrived at the Santas Anonymous depot at 5 a.m. to snag the first spot in line.

“It’s just a tradition that we started. It just kept following along and it just continued until this day,” he said.

READ MORE: Donated truck helps Edmonton man continue charity deliveries despite losing job

This will be his 12^th year taking part in delivery day for the organization.

“It just is a great feeling. This is why we’re the city of champions. We volunteer. We help people in need every time,” he said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It just is a great feeling. This is why we're the city of champions. We volunteer. We help people in need every time," he said.

“It’s tough to get up in the morning but it’s all worth it in the end,” said his daughter Samantha.

WATCH: 630 CHED Santas Anonymous preparing presents for Edmonton kids 

Koenig said the wait in the cold and the wait until the doors opened at 9:30 a.m. were worth it.

“To hand the presents over to the family and see the smiles on their faces, the tears – it’s just an overwhelming feeling of joy,” he said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "To hand the presents over to the family and see the smiles on their faces, the tears - it's just an overwhelming feeling of joy," he said.

Rebecca Ratcliffe was the second person in line, arriving with her husband at around 7 a.m.

“I’m a Kindergarten teacher with Edmonton Public Schools and I see some of my children have benefited from Santas Anonymous every year. I just know it’s such an important cause,” she said.

Ratcliffe said she has been lining up for delivery day for a long time – first as a child with her father and now with her husband.

“Really everybody in line is so happy and excited to be here and excited to do this,” she said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Really everybody in line is so happy and excited to be here and excited to do this," she said.

“You knock on the door and you see the kids. They’re just so happy that you’re there and the families are so appreciative.”

As the morning passed, the dozens in line slowly turned into hundreds of people in line. There was a merry mood in the air despite the cold temperatures – with many people wearing Santa hats and elf hats, clutching warm drinks in their hands and pulling toboggans to help carry the presents to their cars.

Sean Ahronson and his son Koen, 9, arrived shortly after 7 a.m. and brought a lawn chair to help them pass the time.

Ahronson used to be a Santas Anonymous recipient as a child; he has been delivering presents as an adult as a way to give back.

READ MORE: Spirit of giving comes full circle for Santas Anonymous recipients

“It’s nice to help out. I’m in a position right now where I can help out. Who knows, maybe there’s a lot of people right now that aren’t. I may be one of those people in the future,” he said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's nice to help out. I'm in a position right now where I can help out. Who knows, maybe there's a lot of people right now that aren't. I may be one of those people in the future," he said.

His son Koen put it simply when he said he helps out because “it’s Christmas.”

“My mom, she didn’t want to come because she said it was too cold. I want to come because my dad’s going. I want to give presents to the people who can’t buy,” he said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "My mom, she didn't want to come because she said it was too cold. I want to come because my dad's going. I want to give presents to the people who can't buy," he said.

Inside the depot, hundreds of volunteers prepared to help out when the doors opened. They are responsible for taking the volunteer drivers to the appropriate section to pick up the presents and then carry them out to their cars.

Lana Nordlund, the executive director of Santas Anonymous, said the sight of hundreds of volunteers warms her heart.

“That’s dedication. That’s Edmonton love – being outside, waiting in the elements. It’s overwhelming to know how dedicated people are to come out,” she said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "That's dedication. That's Edmonton love - being outside, waiting in the elements. It's overwhelming to know how dedicated people are to come out," she said.

This year, the organization will deliver presents to 25,000 children in the city who are in need and who otherwise may not have a present to open on Christmas morning.

Watch below: 630 CHED Santas Anonymous has a storied history in Edmonton, dating back more than 60 years. Here’s a closer look at what goes into running the charity year after year.

0:48 The history of 630 CHED Santas Anonymous in Edmonton

Delivery day for Santas Anonymous continues on Sunday. Volunteer drivers are asked to bring their drivers licence and proof of insurance to ensure they are eligible to deliver the gifts.

Watch below: Global News broadcast live on Monday, Dec. 12, 2016 from the Santas Anonymous depot. 

0:52 The Koenig family volunteers for Santas Anonymous in 2009

• The Koenig family volunteers for Santas Anonymous in 2009
• A brief history of Santas Anonymous in Edmonton
• How Santas Anonymous toys get to homes before Christmas
• Santas Anonymous’ executive director talks about toy drive
• Man has spent nearly half a century volunteering at Santas Anonymous
• Global Edmonton on the road at 630 CHED Santas Anonymous
• Vice-chair of Santas Anonymous talks about how the toy drive works
• Time-lapse video of Global Edmonton setting up at 630 CHED Santas Anonymous

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