The El Dorado Springs Christmas Basket project is a program that provides food baskets for families and gifts for children age 16 and younger who live in the El Dorado Springs School District and are in need of holiday assistance.

Beginning Oct. 24, applications for Christmas Baskets will be available at the Division of Social Services in Stockton on RB Road and at the Health Dept. in El Dorado Springs in the Southside Medical Mall and from school counselors.

To qualify for assistance, recipients must live in the El Dorado Springs School District and must be receiving public assistance (Food Stamps and/or TANF).

Applications must be completed and returned to the El Dorado Health Dept. or mailed to DSS, PO BOX 200, Stockton, MO. 65785, to arrive no later than noon on Nov. 19.

Only the first 200 eligible applicants will be guaranteed a food basket so return completed applications early.

A confirmation letter with a family number will be mailed on Dec. 4 to each eligible family. They must bring that letter when picking up a food basket on Saturday, Dec. 15 at the First Baptist Church on Main Street.

A minister may refer recipients by completing the lower portion of the application and getting the recipient’s signature and information to submit by the deadline.