PURCELL â€” "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" in the Oklahoma town of Purcell is actually a skunk.

Peggy Christian coordinates Operation Christmas in the town of about 6,000 people, 35 miles south of Oklahoma City. She said Tuesday that most of the $16,000 worth of toys gathered in the drive to benefit more than 800 children from poor families had been ruined by the scent sprayed by a four-legged intruder in a shed where the toys were stored.

She said volunteers found a few pieces that were salvageable, but most of the toys stink â€” dance mats, dolls, pizza ovens and stuffed animals alike.

Plans called for the toys to be distributed this Friday, and Christian said residents are now scrambling to replace the damaged goods with new donations.