Truckee looking to help needy during holidays

The Truckee Community Christmas nonprofit organization is beginning its annual collection.

The group for more than 25 years has provided help in the form of a large box of food items, grocery store gift cards, toys and coats 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 children and low-income or homebound seniors.

Here are ways to help:

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

In addition to goods and services, help is needed to sort and pack donated items at the SELS school gym on Donner Pass Road on Dec. 21 and 22.  Toys will not be wrapped this year. 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 to donate or for more info.