Firefighters bring some Christmas cheer to the most violet city in Mexico by giving thousands of free toys in place of Santa Claus to many poor children the day before the Christmas.

Ciudad Juarez is considered the most harassed city across El Paso, Texas because of the rampant numbers of drug gangs.

Since Thursday night, hundreds of families braved the cold weather and gathered around central plaza just to get some of the care packages filled with different toys such as stuffed animals, dolls, and wooden horses gathered from the annual gift-giving event.

On Friday, some firefighters were even wearing Santa hats and red jackets while handing the gifts to the children. The firefighters redecorated the donated toys from the event. However, they destroyed all of the plastic guns that they have received so as not to encourage violent games.

Drug violence in the city has killed more than 3,000 people this year. Numerous small gangs operate in the area, which are thought to recruit poor children and teenagers to work for them as lookouts or even as hit men.

According to a resident, their city was not like that before. Today, the entire city is very sad as they experience so much violence and corruption, said Beatriz de la Cruz while waiting in line. She was hoping the firefighters would give her granddaughters a bicycle.

While widespread police corruption is observed across Mexico, Tapia, other parents said that they consider the firefighters as one of the few trustworthy bureaus left in the Ciudad Juarez.