MARYSVILLE With the holidays just around the corner, volunteers are kicking off Operation Marysville Community Christmas, celebrating a 22-year tradition of neighbor helping neighbor through distribution of Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday food baskets and toys to families in need.
OMCC, a group of volunteers who serve within the Marysville Community Food Bank, are registering families now for Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets and toys, so dont miss out. Recipients can register every day of the week except Wednesday and Sunday at the food bank between the hours of 8 11 a.m. The food bank is located at 6518 60th Drive NE, directly north of the Marysville/North County YMCA.
Volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks. If you want to help, please call the food bank at 360-658-1054.
OMCC officially kicks off its efforts with the All City Food Drive on Saturday, Nov. 3, when the familiar Christmas red giving barrels will be in place at entrances and lobbies in more than 50 participating grocers, businesses, public buildings and places of worship. Various volunteer organizations will be stationed at some of the sites to encourage donating, and to share information about OMCC.
Individuals who wish to donate non-perishable food items, unused toys and bicycles, stocking stuffers, cash cards, candy or wrapping materials are welcome to drop them by the food bank between 8-11 a.m. every day except Wednesday and Sunday.
OMCC Coordinator Terri Hall emphasizes that donations and gifts will go directly to families in the community. What you give here, stays here. Thats the real difference your donation or gift has made in seasons past and present.
Various area service organizations formed OMCC in 1985 to provide needy families with food and toys at Christmas time, with Thanksgiving baskets added soon after, Hall said. In its first year, 104 families were served, compared with the 700 families and 1,200 children served today, she added. In 1993, OMCC partnered directly with the food bank as an ad hoc committee.
OMCC experienced the loss of a hard-working, longtime OMCC Coordinator and leader, Lillie Lein, who passed away unexpectedly. Volunteers, and the city of Marysville where she was employed, are paying tribute to her good works through Lillies Legacy, with a goal to collect more than 250 toys from city employees alone, and are asking the community to give a little extra this year in her name.
The food bank serves residents in the 98270 and 98271 zip codes.
Families in need can be hungry any time of year, but the holiday season can be especially difficult, with worries of whether their children will be able to share in a holiday meal or unwrap a new toy, activities that many of us sometimes take for granted. Help make this a special time, and put a little happiness in someones holiday, Hall said.
If you would like to volunteer or need more information, we encourage you to call the food bank at 360-658-1054.