As dark fell on Christmas Eve, Lefty O'Doul's restaurant in San Francisco collected about 7,000 toys in a last-minute toy drive and would keep collecting them until early Christmas morning, a restaurant spokesman said.

The restaurant's goal for Monday's annual Christmas Eve toy drive was to collect 15,000 new, unwrapped toys, Lefty O'Doul's spokesman Lee Houskeeper said. While the drive may fall short of its goal of 15,000 toys, Houskeeper said, "It's going very, very well. The generosity of San Franciscans never ceases to astound me."

The drive began at 6 a.m. Monday. By 8:30 p.m., Houskeeper said he was looking at "a big pile of toys" and guessed that there were about 6,000 there that had been dropped off throughout the day. He said that the restaurant would continue to collect toys until last call at Lefty O'Doul's, or about 2 a.m. Christmas morning.

Later that night, Houskeeper said the toy count was about 7,000, but that the quality of the toys was way up.  He said people have donated amazing toys such as a bicycle.

Michelle Sloan was one of many who dropped off toys at Lefty O'Douls Monday evening.

"Instead of us opening gifts this year we decided to give back," said Sloan.

Donations could be dropped off curbside at Lefty's, located at 333 Geary St., just off of Powell Street near Union Square, until 2 a.m. on Christmas morning.

Those who were unable to make the trip to Lefty's could call Luxor Cab at (415) 282-4141 and the cab company would pick up the donation.

The last-minute toy drive was part of the San Francisco Firefighters Toy Program. Tom O'Connor, president of the San Francisco firefighters' union, said the aim was to provide toys to 44,000 children in need this year.

He said demand for toys was up 15 percent in 2012, and that the Christmas Eve toy drive usually provides 5 to 10 percent of overall toy donations.

"It really helps us get over the hump with the last-minute donations," O'Connor said.

On Christmas day, firefighters travel around the city dropping off toys at homes, playgrounds and to children they pass by on the street.

Families who have applied to receive toys can also pick them up at the program's headquarters on Jerrold Avenue.

Toys for all ages were needed, he said, including basketballs, baseballs, footballs and dolls. Houskeeper said there was also a need for higher-end gifts such as bicycles and electronics.

If there was a toy store or other venue that has a whole truckload of toys to donate, a San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency van was available to pick them up, SFMTA spokeswoman Lulu Feliciano said.

While waiting for donations Monday there was plenty of holiday spirit at Lefty's, with singing and musical performances scheduled throughout the day, including by Tim Hockenberry from America's Got Talent, local marching bands and children's choirs.

That morning, city officials including Mayor Ed Lee, police Chief Greg Suhr and fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White packed the restaurant for a breakfast to kick off the toy drive. The San Francisco Giants' World Series trophy even made an appearance.

The last-minute toy drive has been held annually for the past 12 years. Tom O'Doul said that the bar's original owner, Major League Baseball pitcher and San Francisco Seals manager Francis Joseph "Lefty" O'Doul, started the tradition and that Tom O'Doul cherishes it. 

"It's Christmas. Christmas for kids is toys, gifts from Santa,” said O’Doul. “It just shows that we do love one another, and there is a lot of joy and spirit, especially in the City of San Francisco."