HOSCHTON — The Village at Deaton Creek homeowners hope to do their part in providing Christmas for needy families.

Residents presented the Hall County Sheriff’s Office with several truckloads of presents Monday evening at the subdivision off Thompson Mill Road in South Hall.

The program was started three years ago and "it has grown every year," said founder Walter Scott.

"Last year, we had about $8,000 worth of food and toys and this year, it will be about $10,000 to $12,000," he said.

The neighborhood holds a golf tournament, Scrooge Classic, to help raise the needed money, gifts and food.

"We have some needy families (in Hall County) and we’d like to take care of them," Scott said.

Homeowners were inspired to start the program after hearing about a Christmas Eve fire several years ago that displaced a Hall County family. The sheriff’s office ended up delivering gifts and food to the family, which was staying at a local motel.

"They paid for that out of their own pockets, so we said, ‘Hey, if they can do that, we can do something to help them,’" Scott said. Also, the sheriff’s office "knows really where the needy people are," he added.

Hall County Sheriff Steve Cronic said his department works with Hall-Dawson Court Appointed Special Advocates and area churches to help identify needy families during the holidays.

"Thanks to the good people here at Deaton Creek, we’re able to provide Christmas to an awful lot of families that wouldn’t have it (otherwise)," he said. "... Given the economic times and unemployment we have now, people have more needs than ever."

Initially, the Deaton Creek effort started as a program sponsored by the subdivision’s Forum Club, but word spread to other neighborhood clubs and residents.

"It has turned out to be a Deaton Creek fundraiser," Scott said. "... It takes a team effort by a lot of people."

For Scott, the effort is an annual joy.

He likens it to "swelling up like a big ole’ grandpa and seeing your baby coming to life and doing really good things."