The deadline for submitting your completed Christmas Basket application to Family Services in Stockton or Cedar County Health Dept. in El Dorado Springs is noon Monday, Nov. 20.

Donations of non-perishable food and children’s gifts should be brought to the Youth Center (old Liston School) on north Main Street on Monday or Tuesday, Nov. 20 or 21, or on Nov. 27, 28 or 29 between the hours of noon and 6 p.m.

The committee will put out donation barrels this year so all churches, individuals or civic groups are encouraged to take advantage of these hours. Having the donations early will really help the committee plan for the needs of families. The committee is hoping to receive all donations before December.

Cash donations are used to purchase perishable items like ham, potatoes, eggs, cheese, milk and fresh fruit and to supplement food and gift items not provided. Cash donations may be sent to the committee treasurer, Steve Wiseman, at 884 S. 275 Rd., El Dorado Springs, 64744.

Volunteers are a very important part of this project. Help will be needed on Wednesday, Dec. 13, at the First Baptist Church to wrap gifts. Put on your favorite Christmas sweater, grab a friend and your scissors and join us at 9 a.m.

If you have gift boxes to donate they are helpful when trying to wrap odd shaped gifts.

On Friday, Dec. 15, at 9 a.m. we will need volunteers to help fill the food boxes. We have shopping carts so there won’t be a lot of heavy lifting.

We are so blessed to live in such a generous community where so many volunteers make this project a part of their annual celebration of Christmas.

Families who meet the guidelines for the Christmas Basket project and have their application in before the deadline will receive a letter of confirmation by Dec. 7 that you must bring with you on Saturday, Dec. 16, to the north door of the First Baptist Church on Main Street between the hours of 8 and 11:30 a.m. to pick up your food basket. Baskets or gifts not picked up by that time may be donated to families on the waiting list.

If you have not received your confirmation letter by Dec. 7, please call the committee’s new number – 296-4202.