YORK, Pa. – Rutter’s Farm Stores has helped replace toys that thieves stole last month from the Voni B. Grimes Gym’s annual “An Evening With Santa” program, which hosted a party with gifts for families in need, the York Daily Record reports.

Rutter's helped to replace the more than 200 stolen toys by placing boxes in all of its 44 York County convenience stores for customers to make toy donations, as well as donate $1,000 toward food and toy purchases for the party. In addition, Rutter’s also continued its tradition of putting out donation boxes to benefit Toys for Tots.

“There shouldn't be children going without Christmas presents,” said Scott Hartman, president of Rutter's Farm Stores. “This is a way the community can help out."

Customer response was overwhelming. In mid-December, Rutter’s presented the gym with an estimated 500 toys, from baseball gloves and footballs to games and stuffed animals. Rutter’s representatives packed the toys into plastic bags, enough to fill two City of York trucks.

In addition, Rutter’s Dairy provided the gym with 1,300 orange drinks, and the Rutter’s companies added a $725 Wal-Mart gift card for the purchase of additional toys and food.

“This has been a blessed day,” said Gary Calhoun, Voni Grimes’ program coordinator. He estimated that 1,400 children attended Saturday’s Christmas program at the York gym.

Hartman said Rutter’s responded because of its commitment to the community, particularly when it comes to the needs of children.

“We’re blessed in many ways as a company, and we believe it is important to give back to the community that supports us and allows us to be successful,” Hartman said. “I’m so grateful for our customers, who consistently demonstrate their kind-heartedness and help us to achieve wonderful things for worthy causes such as the Voni Grimes Christmas program.”