A Norwalk restaurant is once again holding its annual toy drive to make the holidays a little brighter for kids who may not otherwise have a Christmas.

This is the ninth year Planet Pizza's Dave Kuban has held the charity.

"Everyone deserves to have a wonderful Christmas. It's the best time of year," said James Clifford of Planet Pizza in Norwalk.

Clifford hopes their collection of toys will help.

"Families in all the hard times, especially with the way the economy is now, will be able to give their kids that Santa Claus experience, that magical holiday experience," he said.

Clifford and co-owner Dave Kuban say they grew up with very little and want to give back.

"We try to use everything, all the tools, all the accessibility in the community to come together," Clifford said.

A group of runners in Norwalk called Los Runners did a 1.5-mile run Sunday to Dave and Charlie's Hometown Deli in Norwalk -- Kuban's other restaurant -- and collected even more toys.

"Me coming from a family that we didn't have as much. Now I'm able to bless others and give to others what sometimes I didn't have before," Jeffrey Mendoza of Los Runners said.

The toys will go to needy kids in Norwalk.

"At the end of the day it's about family, community and make someone happy," Mendoza said.

The deadline to drop off toys is 4 p.m. Thursday.