SALEM -- A van full of gifts stolen from a Salem family's driveway has been found, but the gifts were gone.

The Anderson family van was parked in front of their South Salem home and filled with hundreds of dollars worth of clothes, toys and household goods that they had planned to donate.

Neil and Martha Anderson were shocked when they realized it was gone.

“We opened the garage door and where the van normally is there was nothing just driveway, they explained. “We believe heavily that the spirit of Christmas and the holidays is one that you give and provide for others as much as you give and provide love and support for your own."

Police found the van in the parking lot of a Hillsboro movie theater exactly one week after it was stolen. The Andersons told KGW the kids' three car seats were still inside, but all the gifts were gone.

 Background: More details about van theft

The person who took the van also left their own coat and sunglasses inside, along with receipts for a $500 TV purchased at Costco, fast food and clothing. Police were working to track the receipts to a suspect. That is, unless they were from stolen goods, too.

Through their church, the Anderson’s had sponsored a family – three boys and their mother – who needed some holiday help. Martha had gone to a local Target store and stocked up. After everything was stolen, the Andersons planned to re-purchase the gifts, even if it meant fewer presents for their own family.

But many people came forward to help after watching the story on KGW-TV and now there are enough gifts to help not only one, but two needy families. "Because of that gifting, we're now able to adopt another family," Martha said.