Santa's helpers are in Pineville, Missouri this weekend.

Dozens of stocking stuffers are filling the McDonald County 911 call center and giving back to the community.

 

With a handful of candy and a homemade stocking, hundreds of troops overseas will get a surprise from home this holiday season.

 

"We are filling the stockings with snacks, and playing cards and little drink mixes and just little things from home that will maybe brighten their day," says Sheriff Robert Evenson of McDonald county.

 

The socks are being sent to troops of the 203rd Engineer Battalion who just left for Afghanistan. Sheriff evenson and other organizers of "Operation Santa" were hoping to send stockings to a few soldiers, but with the community's help their goal was surpassed.

 

"We have enough to send to 320 soldiers and it's going to take care of everybody in the 203rd on the west side of Missouri from McDonald county all the way to Kansas City," says Evenson.

 

One stocking stuffer and Santa's helper, named Holly, fills the socks, working through the line of volunteers and boxes of goodies.

 

"I'm an art teacher in Anderson and we helped make the stockings and the cards," says Holly Boyer.

 

She knows the troops will be surprised when the socks of snacks arrive.

 

"Because they don't have home there, it's Christmas and they are not going to see their families they are not going to have anything they are used to having for the holidays," says Boyer.

 

The boxes of stockings filled with candy and love and support will make the long trek to the other side of the world, hopefully in time for the holiday.