PHILADELPHIA, PA - The annual Tenant Support Services, Inc. (TSSI) Toys for Tots campaign has shattered all previous drives, almost doubling the number of public housing families receiving gifts last year. At ceremonies at the Philadelphia Housing Authoritys Greater Grays Ferry Estates, Executive Director Carl Greene announced that toys were being distributed to 525 children with each child receiving at least three toys. That compares to last year when 283 children received presents.

"Those kinds of results are only possible through teamwork," said Greene. He pointed out that the gifts were largely the result of so many employees buying tickets to the annual holiday fund-raising party. "Our employees work together every day to help make Philadelphia a better place to live and they showed that same spirit in supporting our kids through this campaign."

TSSI Director Asia Coney said a big change this year was holding the holiday party at a PHA facility rather than renting a banquet hall. She said the money saved was put directly into the pot to help make more PHA families' holidays happier. Coney said, "This is a labor of love. It takes a lot of labor and a lot of love, but it is absolutely worth the effort."

Pre-school children from PHA's Head Start program were spreading the love too. They provided the entertainment high point of the show with a rousing rendition of Jingle Bells. Tenant Support Services is a non-profit subsidiary of PHA, specializing in services for residents.