Holiday projects help people and pets

The Sisters Kiwanis Club is launching its annual holiday food drive to help local folks in need.

The Sisters Kiwanis Christmas Food Basket project is now taking donations to assemble the baskets, which will be delivered to qualified families on December 21. The baskets contain a complete Christmas dinner from the turkey to dessert.

Project coordinator Katie Powers said, "We expect to serve over 100 families this year, up from 93 last year. Families may apply for a food basket at the Kiwanis Food Bank on the corner of Main and Oak Street or at Sisters Family Access Network at the same location. All the area churches also have applications."

According to Powers, cash donations to the Kiwanis Food Basket program are preferred, since the service club must directly purchase most of the items for the baskets.

Checks may be made out to the Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank, P.O. Box 1296, Sisters, Oregon 97759.

Donations of food are also welcome, since the Food Bank expects to serve large numbers of people through the winter months. Due to the economy and more people moving into Central Oregon, the Food Bank has seen an increase of families in need from 35 families in January to a record 60 families in October. Food donations can be dropped off at the Food Bank at the corner of Main Avenue and Oak Street.

Separate from the food basket program is The Nugget's Furry Friends Pet Food Drive, which helps ensure that pets are well fed. Pet food donations may be made at The Nugget office. Due to space restrictions, only dry food will be accepted.

Cash donations are welcome and 100 percent of the funds go to purchase pet food. More than 200 pets were fed through the program last year and the need is expected to increase this year.

For more information contact Katie Powers at 548-2156 or Glenn Keeran at 549-8059.