Bad Economic Times Mean More Toys For Kids

That was evidenced by the San Francisco Fire Fighters Christmas Eve Toy Drive, where organizers collected more than 9,000 toys in less than 24 hours, breaking last year's record.

In fact, it's the most toys firefighters have ever collected in the 9th annual Christmas Eve Toy Drive.

Between 4 a.m on Christmas Eve and 2 a.m. on Christmas Day, donors stopped by the toy drive camp located in the heart of Union Square, dropping off toys that were then distributed to thousands of San Francisco kids in need.

So what's with the giving spirit, when people really don't have as much to give?

"I think people really come through when times are tighter," says Lee Houskeeper, who co-organized the drive. "People are less generous in good times."

Perhaps that is because with the downtrodden economy more people are starting to get a first-hand glimpse at what it is like to go without basic things, like food.