DeKALB – Despite the warm weather Sunday, it was beginning to feel a lot like Christmas for Gary Mullis as he listened to the songs he has come to love over the past 40 years.

It was not the traditional Christmas classics that conjured up images of gift giving and celebration for Mullis, but the sounds of banjos and bluegrass that he has brought to the House Cafe for 43 years.

Mullis, coordinator of the 43rd annual Country Music Show Toy Drive, was in the Christmas spirit Sunday as he saw his friends on stage and community members donating toys for area children in need. By 3 p.m., there were more than six boxes filled with toys – all of which will go to The Salvation Army. Organizers expected about 15 boxes to be filled.