MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Christmas came early in Milwaukee for kids and their families on Saturday morning as Penfield Children's Center hosted its annual holiday party.

Attendees were able to participate in activities like arts and crafts, cookie decorating, face paint, music and more.

"I love this event, and I was counting down just to come so I was up early at like 7, we have to get rolling because we can't miss this event!" said parent Lillin Lott, whose child attends the center. "They have wonderful resources, they have the kids, they are doing a wonderful job with these kids and I love it."

The center partnered with Kohl's, who dropped off gift-wrapped presents for each kid in attendance.

"That is awesome because a lot of parents, it's hard, doing the holidays, it's hard, knowing what we just experienced over the last portion of the summer, it's hard so I think it's a good thing they're giving back to the children," Lott said.

Polina Makievsky, the center's president and CEO, said the holiday spirit is about "giving, caring, sharing and community."

"We've welcomed all the families that we work with at Penfield to enjoy holiday activities for young children," Makievsky said. "Just seeing the kids' faces light up and the sense of wonder and magic, including children who come here every day for their early education program, it's magic to them and that's what we aim to do."

In the future, officials said they hope to expand their services and resources so they can go from helping the near 2,000 kids and families they serve currently, to tens of thousands across Milwaukee and Waukesha counties.