Cheer Basket issues call for donations to help feed needy

Thursday, December 13, 2007

The Cheer Basket project, which provides food for the needy during the holidays, has put out a special call for donations.

"Cheer Basket would like to remind everyone that we will have donation boxes and cash cans located in various retail stores, throughout town, so we would appreciate and ask that you donate liberally," said Terry Ratliff, president of the board of directors of the independently organized project.

"Our food stocks are low compared to years past, and we may have to purchase turkeys and hams again this year, so any contribution would be helpful. If you would like one of our Board Members to come and talk to your group about what we do, please contact my office at 587-0900 and we will be glad to make the arrangements to share our program with you."

Cheer Basket of Mountain Home is now accepting applications for its annual distribution of Christmas food parcels to needy area families.

If your family (or the family of someone you know) needs help, fill out an application form at the Mountain Home News and send it to Cheer Basket at P.O. Box 1171, Mountain Home, ID 83647, before Dec. 19.

Program organizers say they also need help to fill up the food parcels. Donations of non-perishable food items can be left in one of the donation boxes, available at many Mountain Home businesses, schools, and offices.

To donate cash, contact Ratliff Law Offices, or put donations in any of the red and green plastic Cheer Basket donation cans around town. All contributions are tax-deductible.

Last year the Cheer Basket program provided food parcels, including turkey or ham, milk, bread, beans, potatoes, margarine, eggs, and a wide variety of donated foods, to 284 families of 1,025 people, and were able to provide each family with enough to feed each family member for three to five days.

But the organization also purchased over $4,000 worth of turkeys, hams and other foods to meet its commitments, meaning the donations were an important part of the project.

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