Holiday food share serves record numbers

A heartfelt volunteer effort made hard times a little better for 202 Sisters area families this Christmas.

The Sisters Kiwanis Holiday Food Share program provided a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings to a record number of families this Christmas, while the Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District provided toys, clothes and other gifts to children through the Giving Tree at Ray's Food Place.

The Nugget's Furry Friends Pet Food Drive fed 386 pets (181 cats/kittens; 199 dogs/puppies; four birds, one senior horse and one ferret.) Twenty-eight families requested information for a free spay & neuter certificates for their 70-plus pets.

The food and gifts were distributed on December 23 with the help of dozens of volunteers from local scouting organizations, 4H clubs, Kiwanis Key Club, local churches and personnel from the City of Sisters. Kiwanis President Barbara Johnson, who coordinated the program, said the volunteer effort was unbelievably spirited.

"I'm just overwhelmed," said . "It was amazing."

The families who benefited from the community's generosity were overwhelmed, too, Johnson said.

"That's what makes it worthwhile, Johnson said. "The people are so appreciative."