Time to start thinking about Christmas Baskets

As we all gather ‘round the Christmas tree this holiday season, its good to keep in mind not everyone has the Merry Christmas we do.

The Christmas Baskets program, started in 1982, is kicking off their Holiday Food Drive with bags being placed on doorknobs Nov. 2 and 3. Please place nonperishable food items, canned goods and the like, in the bags and place them outside your door for pick up on Saturday, Nov. 10.

The bags will be collected and taken to Holy Trinity Episcopal Church where they will be sorted, with half the donations going to the food bank at Community Federated Church and the other half being used for the free Christmas Baskets program.

If you would prefer to make a cash donation, that is possible as well and all monies are used to shop locally for items like turkeys, ham, bread, milk and other perishable food to add to the baskets.

In 2017, they filled 105 baskets using guidelines from the American Academy of Family Physicians to ensure at least the minimum amount and types of foods were placed in each box.

If your family is in need of one of the Christmas Baskets, you may sign up from Nov. 5 through Dec. 7 at the H.O.P.E. agency at 426 Big Horn or at the Help Center at Common Ground on the corner of Fifth and Arapahoe.

Pick up for the baskets will be at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 642 Arapahoe, on Dec. 16, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.

If you or your organization would like to volunteer help with sorting and packing or any of the other jobs necessary to make this happen, please contact Christmas Basket coordinator Ellen Galligan at 864-2881.

If you would like to make a cash donation, please make checks out to Christmas Baskets and mail to P.O. Box 950, Thermopolis.