Two little boys smiled as they helped their mom sort through piles of clothing Saturday as volunteers helped them pick out the best fits.

However, Jesus, 9, and Jose, 6, were more excited about the toys. The two wrestling fans were hoping for an action figure of their favorite wrestler, Ray Mysterio.

"The whole family will get a good gift," says their mother, Maria Rivera, as she sorts through the clothing, also searching for outfits for her 2-year-old daughter and crib bumpers for a baby due in February.

The Riveras were among some 1,600 mostly Latino children who received toys, clothing and candy at the Boys and Girls Club in Midvale on Saturday, the biggest in a series of toy and clothing distributions sponsored by the Rotary Club of Hispano-Latinos of Salt Lake and Clinica Hispana.

"We came down to see if we could help a little," said volunteer John Reese, who smiled as he gave Jose a high five and wished the family a merry Christmas.

Dr. Cesar Diaz, organizer of the event, says he is following the example of his mother, who would help families in need in his native Ecuador.

"There's a huge need in the community," Diaz says. "A lot of these children don't have much ... for some families, this is Christmas."

Diaz first started the drive seven years ago when he helped 300 children. The drive grew each year, and last year after he joined the Rotary Club, he got the service organization on board. A total of 3,000 children were served this holiday season at Saturday's event and at others in Salt Lake, Providence, Genola and Wendover, he said.

The families registered for the drive after being referred by community services, including Holy Cross Ministries, Centro de la Familia, the Boys and Girls Club, Padres Anonimos (Anonymous Parents), and the YWCA. Some families with greater needs also received larger gifts, such as bikes and grocery gift certificates, Diaz said.

Jesse Soriano, a Rotarian and director of the Utah Office of Ethnic Affairs, and his wife, Barbara, were among volunteers sorting through stacks of puzzles, stuffed animals, toy trucks and dolls.