Empire City Casino in Yonkers is helping hundreds of families keep warm this holiday season.

Casino officials teamed up with Catholic Charities at the Raceway yesterday for its seventh annual Christmas Spirit Toy and Coat Drive.

Hundreds of coats and more than 600 toys have been collected since the drive began on Nov. 29. "Coats reflect the basic necessities of the business we are in. The toys recognize in addition to those necessities there's a spirit to the human person," says Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, of Catholic Charities.

All of the items will be distributed to families through community agencies.