UPDATE: Community Steps Up With Gifts For 26 Sacramento Homeless Families

MATHER (CBS13) - The community has come to the rescue after a person who pledged to buy gifts for 26 Sacramento area homeless families bailed out a week before Christmas.

The unidentified person, who reportedly has a history of pulling similar stunts, had agreed to sponsor 26 families in the Sacramento Area Emergency Housing Center but didn't come through.

However, a number of people, companies and organizations offered their support.

Friday afternoon, a truck loaded with more than 200 presents donated by Kaiser Permanente will be delivered to the Mather Community Campus. Kaiser Permanente adopted eight of the 26 families.

The gifts will be combined with the other donations to be delivered to all 26 families just in time for Christmas, said Kaiser spokesman Edwin Garcia.

Also Friday, the Salvation Army is distributing food and gifts to thousands of needy families during its annual Christmas drive at Cal Expo.

More than 6,000 toys and 2,000 food boxes will be given out to more than 2,000 needy families.