The holiday spirit was in full effect for Collin County families in need at the fifth annual Cornerstone Christmas at Prosper High School during the weekend.
Each family in need has a host family. The families get to know each other over some food and drinks. Then, the kids go into the gym and play while the parents work with the host family to pick out gifts for the kids, holiday decorations, winter clothes, food and even a Christmas tree.
This year, 86 families and 225 kids will benefit from the efforts of Cornerstone.
"It's giving them hope. It's letting them see a community come together and love on them and they are not forgotten," Cornerstone executive director Jennifer Lutes said. "My personal Christmas is today."
Stephanie Anderson is one of the single moms on the receiving end this year. She said she wants to be a host family one day.
"It's very humbling to be in programs like this, but it makes you strive to do better," she said. "It makes you want to show other people or other single moms it's OK."
All of the items at the event were donated or bought with donated money.
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For the third year, NBC 5 morning anchor Marc Fein and his family participated in the event.
"It's one of our favorite days of the year," he said. "Cornerstone works all year long to help families in need, but what they do at Christmastime is remarkable."
Fein said a friend supported a family where the grandmother was taking care of her daughter's four children while her daughter — a single mom — serves in Afghanistan.
"I was honored to take part in the event," Fein said.
NBC 5's Todd L. Davis contributed to this report.
