James Brown continues to be Santa Claus to hundreds of needy local boys and girls.

The Rev. Al Sharpton, the community and the late soul singer's children kept Mr. Brown's annual Christmas toy giveaway alive Thursday, handing out countless toys to hundreds of area children at the Imperial Theatre.

Defying doctors' orders, the Godfather of Soul participated in the giveaway last year, his last public appearance before his death on Christmas Day.

"The last memory the world had of James Brown was not of him performing in some high, round concert hall," the Rev. Sharpton said. "The last place the world saw James Brown was passing out toys."

The children at Thursday's giveaway were much like the young James Brown, who stared into store windows at toys he couldn't afford, the Rev. Sharpton said.

"James Brown always believed in giving away something during the holidays," the Rev. Sharpton said. "Christmas will not be the same for any of us because it will remind us of what we lost, but it will also be a challenge to us."

The challenge is to carry on what Mr. Brown began, he said.

The faces of children, weary from waiting a couple of hours in the December cold, beamed as they were loaded down with Christmas cheer from the Brown family and friends.

In the spirit of the occasion, 4-year-old Alexandra Monsanto was asked how she felt.

"Good," she said with a smile.

Deanna Brown Thomas, echoing her father's famous song, said she felt good, too.

Last year she scolded her father for not wearing a coat in the cold, wet weather, but he insisted that he was fine, eager to give back to his community.

"I hope people remember that that's what James Brown was really about -- giving," Mrs. Thomas said.

The latest round of giving included "hundreds and hundreds and hundreds" of toys, said her husband, Shawn Thomas.

"I couldn't even give you a count," he said, noting that the families that lined up hours in advance despite the cold wouldn't be there if they weren't in need.

"We're truly, truly blessed to be able to do this and carry on the legacy of Mr. Brown," Mr. Thomas said. "We're not just giving away bags of toys. It's bags of joy."

The toys were much appreciated, said Naleesha Brown, the first parent in the line that meandered down Broad Street.

"We had to spend a lot of money on bills," she said.

The children's grandmother, Rudy Johnson, arrived at 7 a.m. for the 10 a.m. giveaway.

"The legacy lives on," she said of Mr. Brown.

The Rev. Sharpton said "the only thing missing is him coming through the door."

"Christmas means nothing if we can't come together, and you know what I think is amazing is that with all of the court fighting and all of that you see the kids saying let's put all of that aside and let's have a nice Christmas celebration," he said.

Reach Greg Gelpi at (706) 828-3851 or greg.gelpi@augustachronicle.com.