Executive Director Jerry Jones says COVID forced them to change signing up from in-person or over the phone, to online.
"We used to have a party here but we can't do that anymore so the kids don't get to see Mr. and Mrs. Claus, have cookies, make crafts, and families don't get to enjoy the tradition that they've made it. But the upside is that we're serving far more kids this way. It used to be about 300, maybe 400 in a good year, and this year over 550."
Jones says it's good that more kids will receive presents, but the pandemic is also continuing to hurt a lot of families.
"Not just from the fact that COVID has caused people to lose income but it's also caused people to change their world view on how they're going to go about living their lives moving forward. And during that transition period, it can be difficult economically, and so we're seeing that here and we're hoping we can provide at least some salve for this wound that's festering at this point in time."
Signups for the King Center's holidays gifts ended last month, then volunteers did the wrapping. Parents and other family members can pick up their children's presents from 9 am to 4 pm, through Friday.
Donors include: the Moline Foundation, Royal Neighbors of America, Unity Point Health, PetSmart Moline, Dohrn Transfer, St. Ambrose University Athletics, Spring Forward, PuffPac, Operation Home Front/Dollar General, Bi-State Literacy Council, Mid-American Energy, and the Mississippi Valley Quilters Guild.