Time to fill the Christmas Baskets
Comet staff report

For years many area churches and groups helped families at Christmas time. In 1982, the groups banded together to create a unique community project. It is coordinated by area churches and generously helped by civic groups, students of all ages, businesses and individuals.

The communities of Christmas Baskets Inc. serves Burrows, Camden, Deer Creek, Delphi, Ockley, Pyrmont, Radnor, Rockfield and Yeoman.

There are many ways to donate to the project:

• Groceries: canned items including fruit, vegetables, milk, meat, tuna and juice; pasta products and sauces; white and brown sugar; hot and cold cereals; shortening; peanut butter, jams and jellies; baby food and diapers; gelatins and puddings; cake mixes, baking mixes, corn meal, flour and Bisquick. No home-processed or baked goods can be accepted. Call Herb Campbell at (574) 965- 2326 to make a large donation of one product;

• All paper products, laundry and dish detergents and facial soap;

• Hats, gloves, new toys, puzzles, books and games for older children and families. Please be sure to include required batteries with donations;

• Monetary donations are greatly appreciated. Send checks, payable to Christmas Baskets to: Virginia Thompson, 3696N. SR25, Delphi, IN 46923;

• Volunteer for toy sorting at Honan Hall in Delphi or help sort food at the National Guard Armory in Delphi Dec. 11, 12 and 13 beginning at 9 a.m. each day. Box-filling for each family is done on the final day of sorting at 7 p.m. Volunteers should bring a wagon or cart if available. Recipients will pick up their filled boxes at the Armory on Dec. 15 from 9 a.m. to noon. Toy distribution will follow from 4 to 6 p.m., and clean-up crews for afterward would be helpful.

If you or someone you know needs a basket, call Kathy LaFond at (765) 564- 2516. She will need to know:

• applicant's name, • address,

• phone number,

• number of household members

• ages of children.

Names will be accepted

through Dec. 4.

Kathy LaFond said more than 200 Carroll County families were helped with approximately one week's worth of food, a gift for each child up to age 18 and other necessities through the 2006 campaign.

"For some families, it was a boost to tide them over," she said. "For some families, it was survival for one more week, plus something for their children at Christmas. Please help as you are able, and thank you."