This weekend kids will be able to help him out themselves on Saturday thanks to Exit Realty Frontier and Real Deals Home Decor.

The companies are putting on a Christmas giveaway and are collecting used toys and other items to give out to well-deserving families for the holiday at the business at 321 Central Ave.

“It’s just our way of giving back,” said Kyle Olson, broker/owner of Exit Realty. “We had a good year, and we know a lot of families are struggling right now.”

Exit Realty will host an open house from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday. There will be coloring books, drinks and cookies, and kids can have their picture taken with Santa in a recently renovated space.

-Messenger photo by Joe Sutter
This room at Real Deals is all decorated and ready for the Christmas open house this Saturday. Kyle Olson points out where Santa Claus will be for photos ops, next to the corregated he’s used to return the office to a more rustic look.

Olson hopes that the kids will also bring along a toy.

“Something they don’t use anymore — you know, gently used,” he said. “It’s about life lessons. … The season is not just about getting, it’s about giving too.”

Santa will once again snag a ride from the Fort Dodge Fire Department, which plans to come at about 7 p.m. with a fire truck to take Santa back to the North Pole.

Exit Realty and Real Deals are looking for some especially worthy families as part of their giveaway this year.

“The one family, the gal just recently lost her job,” Olson said. “The store here in Fort Dodge is closing. They were just notified in the last couple weeks that you’re done.”

-Messenger photo by Joe Sutter
Kyle Olson poses in the office he’s renovating connected to Exit Realty. The space will host a Christmas event from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday for kids to get photos with Santa and donate to Exit Realty and Real Deals’ holiday giveaway.

Another family just moved to the area from Missouri.

“And they found out their son has to have open heart surgery,” he said. “He’s 7 years old. They’re struggling with that — just moving here, and buying a house, and now they’re going to be off work for a while.

“We’re looking for a family of young girls, because we’ve got a ton of girls’ stuff. The families we’ve got so far are just little boys. We’ve got some monetary donations so far, which is great; that way we can pinpoint what exactly these families need.”

Ideas are coming in from Exit agents, from social media, from friends of friends, and from talking with teachers, Olson said. He’s also connected with local charitable organizations.

“Everybody you talk to says these kids need socks,” Olson said. “Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant.”

And, of course, toys — both used and new.

The agents have been working hard to help pull this off, Olson said — Tanny Miller, Reggie Kopecky, Ryan Birkett, and Sarah Riha.

“We want to make this an annual event,” he added.