BARRE, Vt. -- With these tough economic times, many charities say they need everything they can get. In a Vermont city a parking ticket can help bring presents to needy children.

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If a ticket lands on your windshield in the city of Barre, you have the option of paying it or donating a toy of the same value to the Christmas for Kids Program, reported WPTZ-TV in Plattsburgh, N.Y.

"It's great for the little ones. It shows the community there's a lot of people that care," said Dee Richardson, who hands out parking tickets as the Barre community service officer.

Officer Jason Fleury said the police department is collecting toys for infants and kids up to age 17. He said all of the toys will help children in need in Barre.

Tickets run from $7 to $15, and they have a note attached with the options of what drivers can do. Richardson said that, on a daily basis, she hands out 25 to 30 tickets.

Parking tickets dated Nov. 17 to 26 of this year can be dismissed if you donate a new unwrapped toy of equal or greater value to the Barre City Christmas for Kids Program. You must bring the parking ticket and the toy to the police department before Dec. 5 at 4 p.m.

Faced with a tight budget of its own, the city agreed to keep the annual program running and expanded it from three or four days to eight days.

"The impact with an $8.5 million budget is minimal. It's important to support that. It's a really great program for the community," said City Manager John Craig.