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LEESBURG, GA -- More than 115,000 children in the United States are in foster care.

During the holidays, not having a family can be tough, so the Leesburg Police Department is hoping to make it a little easier for foster children. For eight years in Leesburg, police officers have collected toys and bikes for local foster children to make sure they have a happy holiday.

“We love doing it. We have fun! It’s a lot of work sometimes but, like yesterday, we worked all day long sorting stuff out and bagging it up. It’s just a team effort,” says Chief Charles Moore.

The team effort helps give children without a family the Christmas spirit.

“It really brings a nice Christmas to some kids who in the past they may not have even had it,” says Joshua Smith with the Department of Family and Children.

35 foster children are receiving presents this Christmas, and the Leesburg Police Department says it will help them feel more like they have a family.

“It’s bad enough they can’t be home with mommy or daddy or grandparents, they got to be with somebody else trying to take care of them,” says Moore.

Leesburg police want to make sure the children are taken care of this Christmas.

“They’re going to be able to see it under the tree and they’re going to be able to have as normal of a Christmas as you can have without being with your family,” says Smith.

It’s not just the children getting a smile on their face.

“It sends a joy across my heart bigger than you would ever imagine,” says Sheriff Reggie Rachals.

Multiple bags of toys and 25 bikes – some donated, some bought by the police department – will be given to foster children at the Lee County Department of Family and Children.