Metro Police were busy today, but instead of fighting crime they were spreading holiday cheer. Some families are having a Merry Christmas tonight because of those who serve and protect. For some families it's like Santa has come knocking on their door. Latoya Baker is one of over 200 Nashville families getting a basket full of items that will make sure her growing family has a Christmas, and she needs all of it.

"I have 5 kids on my own, and my daughter has 2 kids, I adopted my sister's twin boys, I've had them since they were born, then I just got my sister's 2 kids, so there's a lot of us," says Baker.

Deliveries like this only happen after months of work.

"You're going to make a lot of children and a lot of families happy today," says Michele Donegan.

Before the dawn, hundreds of volunteers gathered into an undisclosed location in West Nashville to prepare baskets of holiday cheer, each one loaded with plenty of food for a Christmas dinner and beyond. Plus, teddy bears and toys for under the tree. All of it donated.

"Just kept growing, growing and growing," says Joe Casey.

Joe Casey is the former Metro Police Chief who started the program over 50 years ago.

"It's amazing how far it's come, never thought when we started out with a couple of baskets and a couple of families that it would grow to as far as it has," says Casey.

"This is an opportunity for us to be there to share in good will, to show that we're the police and we want to help our community, that what we're about, we're public servants," says Donegan.

Hermitage Commander Michele Donegan is Chief Elf of the operation. She says all the work is well worth it.

"When you drop those baskets and those toys off and have that momma or that grandmother hug you with tears in their eyes, that's what it's all about, it's so addictive, you can't wait for next year to do it again," says Donegan.

This year's Christmas Basket Program served 235 families and gave toys to over 500 children.Police Spend Christmas Eve Spreading Holiday Cheer