A jovial holiday atmosphere filled Salerno's Function Hall during the Dick Melloni Toy Drive Saturday night.

Guests were treated to a catered buffet style array of foods and holiday music. A tree decked out in white lights and blue ornaments stood in the corner of the room as Christmas music played.

Standing next to the auction table filled with items ranging from appliances to Red Sox tickets, Rochester resident Steve Demmer noted, “an event like the toy drive brings life outside of the community into Wareham.”

The 23-year-old toy drive has grown into an event which now serves 500 families a year and upwards of 700 children a year. Organizer Steve Melloni was proud of the effect this event and other events like the toy drive have had on the community.

“Events like this would not be possible without the people of Wareham,” Melloni said. “We are all family here. An event like this brings people together.”

Toy donations are welcome throughout the year and have been so plentiful that a partnership with the program Turning Point was necessary to store toys.

“An event like this is not only social but also brings awareness to the public and a feeling of camaraderie,” Turning Point board member Rose Berry said.

Berry, a resident of Taunton, has been involved in the program for 10 years and was in awe of the generosity within Wareham.

“This is a close knit community,” said Berry.

The next Dick Melloni Toy Drive event is on Dec. 12 at Wareham Crossing. The drive will be partnering with the Wareham police for their Stuff-A-Cruiser event in front of Target from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.