Christmas Basket sign up begins

The Christmas Baskets Program started in about 1982 at NOWCAP, moved to the Elks, then to the Episcopal Church. Business status and auditing are now provided by the Episcopal Church. “Christmas Baskets” is a non-denominational program that serves anyone in need of food and has people from the whole community who volunteer to help with the set-up and distribution. 

The Boy Scouts’ “Scouting for Food” starts us off with their fall food collection, then help sort this first gathering. This year the Alternative Youth Program, and other volunteers will also help gather and sort food. Half the food goes to the Food Bank at the Community Federated Church and half to the Christmas Baskets program. The “Christmas Baskets” boxes are set up in the Parish Hall at Holy Trinity (Arapahoe and 7th), where the curbside pick-up/delivery also occurs.

The Youth Alternative Program, local businesses, and banks, local schools, folks from local churches and many others participate to make this program successful. The Christmas Baskets Program shops locally for the food we need to buy and appreciates the help our local merchants give us. It is truly a whole community affair.

The program usually fills about 100+ boxes. They use the guidelines from the American Academy of Family Physicians for at least the minimum amount/type of food per person/box, with everyone getting some extra food when they have enough. Turkey’s or sliced ham, milk, potatoes and bread are the main perishables they purchase with cash donations, with the non-perishable (canned and dried) foods usually donated by the community. They also purchase pie filling, cranberry sauce, and stuffing if they don’t receive enough, so every family can have these special holiday items. 

People can sign up at Help Center at Common Ground and with the Public Health Nurse at the Courthouse Annex, November 1 through December 9.

Box packing occurs Thursday, December 17 from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.

Pick-up occurs at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 642 Arapahoe and 7th Street, December 18, 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Clean-up is December 19 at 1 p.m.

Donations can be made at Christmas Baskets, P.O. Box 940, Thermopolis or call 864-3629.