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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Thousands of families in Southern Colorado will now have a Christmas filled with food and presents thanks to the Bob Telmosse Christmas Giveaway.

This Christmas charity started 26 years ago as a hoax. Someone put an advertisement in the paper saying Bob Telmosse would be giving food to needy families for an Easter dinner.

From then on, this giveaway became his passion, and Telmosse moved it to Christmas.

This year the Bob Telmosse Foundation teamed up with Mr. Bigg's Family Fun Center. 

Organizers say about 10,000 people came for help, almost double the amount of people from last year.

The lines started as early as 2:00 in the morning and lasted past 3:00 in the afternoon.

"We stood in line for five hours to get the girls a few things," said Kevin Lawrence.

"It just shows how bad our economy really is," said Joseph Monti.

Organizers were worried this bad economy would slow them down, but they successfully provided for about twice as many needy families as last year.

"Basically my dad lost his job just before Thanksgiving," said Echo Stokes.

"Been laid off seven months and I've got to do something to provide for four kids," said Monti.

The giveaway provided clothes, gifts, and an entire Christmas meal from milk, to turkeys, to potatoes, salad, and bags of canned goods.

For volunteers moving boxes and directing traffic the work has been non-stop.

"It's been quite hectic but it's been a lot of fun," said Matt Gomez.

"Crazy, but fun watching kids pick out toys," said Fatima Elshani.

"This teddy bear is for me," said Krystal Frank.

"I got a little kitty game," said Sara Lawrence.

"The Brat, and I got this and some books," said Jaqunna Lawson.

Kids even got to pick out gifts for their parents.

"It really helped out with us," said Lawrence.

"It's great they can get together and do all this," said Stokes.

"Grateful (that) people are willing to extend their hands," said Monti.

Telmosse died two years ago. His wife says carrying on the legacy, like they have, is exactly what Telmosse would have wanted.

It's estimated his vision has helped more than 100,000 families in the area since the event's inception.