Today, Emily Finch is going home to Abingdon, Md., and Scott Dow is going home to San Francisco.

But Tuesday, both AmeriCorps volunteers were packing up and passing out more than 400 bags of toys at Good Shepherd Community Service in Vicksburg.

“I’m far away from home, so it’s nice to be put in the Christmas spirit,” said the 22-year-old Finch who was among the AmeriCorps volunteers registering and directing parents, distributing bags and stocking tables at the center on Cherry Street. “It helps me get ready for the holidays by helping out here.”

Finch and Dow are among 200 volunteers in the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps Southern Region, based in Vicksburg.

They were helping distribute presents to parents who signed up weeks ago requesting help in providing Christmas presents for their children.

“One of the reasons I joined was to prove that young people are capable of making a change in the community,” said Finch.

Good Shepherd provided gifts for 415 children ages 1 to 12 with enough toys left over to serve 75 to 80 more.

Carolyn Ross is the mother of seven children, ranging from ages 2 to 8, all of whom received presents through Good Shepherd.

“I normally do Salvation Army, but I missed it this year,” said Ross. “Somebody told me about Good Shepherd, and I think my children are going to have a Merry Christmas. I wasn’t expecting all of this.”

The Rev. Tommy Miller, director of Good Shepherd Community Center said that many different people are involved in making this operation run smoothly.

“We get donations from all over,” said Miller. “Local churches, businesses and individuals adopt these children and take care of their Christmas presents.”

Now that toy distribution is over, Dow and Finch will go home for the Christmas holidays, and they and other AmeriCorps volunteers will return to Vicksburg Jan. 5 to continue their community service.

“I just want to do something meaningful,” said Dow. “I want to give back.”