MARTA employees spread Christmas cheer those in need - FOX 35 News Orlando

MARTA employees are spreading Christmas cheer to hundreds of families. The employees' holiday shop opened on Thursday and will be in operation through Friday.

For years, the MARTA Employees Charity Club has distributed toys and bicycles to needy families.

Following a process involving United Way and the Federation of Charities, parents are invited to the club's holiday shop located in the atrium of MARTA's headquarters building off Piedmont Road.

"I'm a single father with three little ones, so it gets overwhelming when it gets to this time of year, so to get this kind of help is really a Godsend. It takes pressure off a lot of parents I would imagine," said Anthony Muse.

Charity Cub chairman and MARTA veteran Warren McMichael oversees the two-day holiday shop. He said they have been doing it for 22 years.

MARTA workers themselves haven't seen a pay raise in five years. Still, MARTA says 80 percent of its employees participate in donations supporting more than 400 charities.
    
"When you give this way, in my generation, we pass it on to the next generation and will continue on and on and forever," McMichael said.

The MARTA Employees Charity Club says it has toys and bikes this year for 5,000 children.