It’s the season of giving and coordinators with the Pierce County Community Food Pantry are hopeful residents will show their holiday spirit in assisting the food pantry in its holiday gift basket project.

The pantry, which provides food for hundreds of county residents throughout the year, gets additional requests around the holidays. The pantry puts together holiday food baskets, and, already, 87 families have requested one this year.

The baskets contain an assortment of items and are put together by volunteers and handed out near Christmas, according to Vonnie Degenstein, who coordinates the pantry with her husband, Phil.

While the pantry receives food shipments through the government, it also relies on food drives and monetary donations to meet the needs of the region.

Those families in need who want a food basket are asked to contact Vonnie by Dec. 1. For more information, call 776-5597.

-Staff report