Over 100 Christmas baskets delivered to area families in need

Christmas baskets for 107 local families have been made possible by a number of volunteers and fundraisers.

More than 40 volunteers, 14 vehicles, and 107 baskets contributed to the Christmas Basket Program for the 107 families in the Texarkana area.

Preparations have been made since Friday for the deliveries, including shopping, packing, and distributing the food to those in need, according to information from the city of Texarkana, Texas.

Texarkana, Texas, the city of Texarkana, Ark., Texarkana Water Utilities, Texarkana Independent School District and the Texarkana, Texas, Parks and Recreation Department worked together to make a satisfying Christmas meal for each family.

Contents in each basket include 10 to 15 canned goods, a bag of potatoes, rice, flour, bread, fruit, vegetables, a four-pound ham, cookies, cake mix, and more.

Fundraisers and donations that made the Christmas Basket program possible include:

■ Bramlett Beans and Cornbread luncheon, started by James Bramlett in 1998 and organized by Texarkana, Texas Parks and Recreation, sponsored by Big Jakes, TISD, and Starbucks.

■ The Empty Bowls project, held in conjunction with the Beans and Cornbread luncheon. An international grassroots effort, the Empty Bowls Project raises money and awareness in the fight to end hunger. The ceramics classes at Texas High created bowls that were sold during the lunch, and the proceeds were donated to the Christmas Basket program.

■ A large amount of canned food and cash donations were collected at the city of Texarkana, Ark., Employee Christmas Luncheon.

■ Donations coordinated by Texarkana Water Utilities

■ Donation from Morris Sheppard Federal Credit Union

This effort was made possible by all the sponsors donors, and volunteers who assisted in funding, preparing, and distributing the baskets from the Southwest Center to the many deserving families around Texarkana.