The Greenville Jaycees made Christmas a little merrier for a group of area children.

On Thursday, the Jaycees sponsored a Christmas party for Butler County’s foster children, complete with a visit from St. Nick himself.

April Lowery, Butler County Department of Human Resources supervisor of foster and ongoing services, said the generosity of the Jaycees helps provide gifts for children that might otherwise not have a single present under the tree.

“These kids are already not in their own home,” she said. “They’re living in a foster home or a group home, and for many of them, this is the only Christmas they will have. It’s huge for them to have these gifts under the tree.”

Lowery said the Jaycees provided gifts for 24 children this year.

“What they do is amazing,” Lowery said. “They usually get the kids the exact gift that’s on their wish list.”

Lowery said this year children received everything from a bicycle to a Nintendo Wii to a pair of Nike Air Force 1 sneakers.

“It really means a lot that they will do this for our kids,” Lowery said.

The Jaycees use money raised from their annual Kid’s Classic Golf Tournament to purchase the gifts.