The Calera Firefighters Association collected more than $1,500 for its annual holiday toy drive.

Association representative Ryan Tallie said more than 50 children will receive gifts this Christmas thanks to various community organizations. Ken Miller and the Champion Flyers, Rick Kilgore and the Shelby County Aviation Association and Butch Singleton all made generous donations.

Families also received Bibles to remind and teach the season’s significance, Tallie said.

The Aviation Association hosted its first-ever Christmas party to benefit the toy drive Dec. 5 at Shelby County Airport. The party featured antique airplanes and fire trucks from the 1920s and 30s.

In addition, encountered one of the most famed pilots in the world – Santa Claus.

Tallie said this year’s toy drive went above and beyond expectations.

“This year we were able to more than triple the families served, and it is only because of these organizations and their generous members,” Tallie said.