Local residents and musicians tapped their feet to the sounds of rockabilly, bluegrass, country and gospel music played through the DeKalb Ive Union Hall last Sunday. But the music wasn’t only for entertainment.

The 32nd-annual Salvation Army toy drive offered an outlet for local performers not only to showcase their talent, but also celebrate the Christmas spirit shared by the almost 100 people who attended yesterday’s event. Cost to attend the event was to bring a new toy to be distributed to the children of needy families.

Hosts Lavern Day and Gary Mullis, both DeKalb musicians, have hosted the event since it began. During Sunday’s event, Day sang and Mullis played drums. Mullis also performed three recitations, “Footprints in the Sand,” “God Bless America Again” and “Recitation for Roy Acuff,” about a country music star on the Grand Ole Opry who passed away in 1992.

Mullis is a DeKalb musician who has performed in Nashville with Grand Ole Opry performers and has received numerous awards for his recitations and song-writing ability. He sold a variety of his CDs, tapes and videos of his concerts at the toy drive. Mullis donated all proceeds from one of his compilation CD “Blue Skies” to Hope Haven.

“It gives people that want to participate a way to sing,” said Shadow Gentry, a DeKalb resident who sang during the event. Gentry also has helped Mullis and Day with collecting toys in the past.

Vicki Litlejohn of Cortland agreed with Gentry that music was an integral part of the toy drive because it provided the entertainment, helping draw people to the event. Both her husband Matthew and her 8-year-old son Michael sang and played guitar during the toy drive. But she recognized the true meaning behind the event.

“The most important part is that they collect toys for needy children in the community,” she said.

Day said that as long as he and Mullis are around they will continue to host the event.