The Truckee Community Christmas nonprofit organization has provided help in the form of a large box of food items, grocery store gift cards, toys and coats for more than 25 years to individuals and families identified as the most in need during the holiday season.

This program, which vets recipients and depends on the generosity of locals, will benefit several hundred Truckee families, teenage moms and their babies and low-income or homebound seniors again this year.

There are a number of ways to help:

• Look for food collection barrels placed at Save Mart beginning the Saturday after Thanksgiving and donate non-perishable food items;
• Collection bins for toys can be found at banks, real estate offices, schools, homeowners’ association clubhouses, and businesses around town;
• Warm, clean, gently used winter coats may be dropped off at Church of the Mountains in downtown Truckee and Tahoe Forest Church on Hirschdale Road;
• Donors may also provide necessities for seniors, whose wishes are often easy to fulfill and whose gratitude is always abundant. Gratitudes in downtown Truckee is coordinating senior gift donations.

In addition to goods and services, help is needed to sort, pack and wrap donated items at the SELS school gym on Donner Pass Road on Dec. 15-16. The food drive needs assistance from volunteers too.

For those who prefer to give a tax-deductible contribution, checks may be mailed to Truckee Community Christmas, PO Box 2955, Truckee, CA 96160 or go online.

For more info, call 530.587.2757.