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BESSEMER -- A group of Christmas Belles brought bundles of joy to Gogebic County foster children this holiday season.  But it's not what you'd think.

These Belles don't ring and though they have been known to sing, their true talent is of the gift-giving variety.

For the past nine years, a growing group of women from the Watersmeet-Land O'Lakes area have been buying and donating holiday gifts to local children in need.

"It’s fun to shop for a five-year-old child who wants specific things,” said Corrine Duerkop, the Belles’ co-chair.  “It's fun to go out and see what you can do on a budget for that child.  It's very heartwarming for us and this is the culmination--delivery day."

The Belles outdid themselves again this year.  They delivered hundreds of hand-picked gifts to the Gogebic Department of Human Services in Bessemer.

"Rather than doing for themselves at Christmas, they're helping people in need, and it's just very rewarding to be a part of this," said Marie Kinnunen, Community Resource Coordinator for the D.H.S.

Kinnunen and other staff members put in a lot of work behind the scene to provide the belles with descriptive wish lists, coded for anonymity.

Because of their efforts, 71 kids will get to open some of the best presents they've ever been given.

"I’ve had some of the children talk about Christmas gifts two...three…four months after Christmas,” said social worker Gary Olkonen.  “They say, 'I got this,' and 'I’m still playing with this,' so it does mean a lot."

When the belles say good-bye, the staff gets to work writing real names on all of presents.  After the gifts are relabeled and put back in their boxes, they go to social workers who will pass out the presents over the next few weeks.