LAPLACE – It’s nearly deadline for L’Observateur’s Food For Families program, and the need still seriously outweighs our ability to help.

“Single, broke parent experiencing hard times.”

“Single parent with two kids living paycheck to paycheck.”

“Single parent caring for three boys, and also having to raise grandchildren.”

These are just a few of the many nomination forms we have received here at L’Observateur, as we are nearing the end of our first annual “Food for Families” collection drive.

This Christmas season, L’Observateur is joining with the community to reach out to needy families. But many families in the area could use a food box to brighten their Christmas this year, and more donations of food and money are needed.

“It is amazing to me to see how many families, right in this area, are really in great need,” L’Observateur Publisher Kevin Chiri said. “I don’t think many of us realize how tough those right around us have it.”

“We are especially hoping local businesses will join with us in the program to help others this holiday season,” Chiri added. “But even for anyone who can just help in a small way, we hope to get many individuals, as well as the businesses in the River Region to help us this year. 100 percent of the donations we get will go to help needy families. The entire program is a volunteer effort.”

We are seeking donations of non-perishable food items, or monetary donations that we will use to buy food. We will box the food together and deliver boxes to needy families in the area on Saturday, December 18.

We have also solicited the public for nominations of those who need some help for this holiday season, and as usual with this kind of program, the needs are currently far exceeding the donations.

One of the more common requests comes from senior citizens who are on fixed incomes.

“The first groups we usually try to help are the seniors who can barely get by,” Chiri explained. “You would be surprised how many senior

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citizens live right around us all, and they struggle to just pay for food and medicine each month. The box of food we deliver really helps more than you can imagine.”

All the delivery work will personally be done by employees here at the paper.

You may bring donations to the L’Observateur office at 116 Newspaper Dr., (just off Main St. behind the New Home Ministries Church). Or you can mail monetary donations to “Food for Families,” c/o L’Observateur, P.O. Box 1010, LaPlace, La., 70069.

The deadline to donate food is Wednesday, Dec. 16.

Additionally, many clubs or organizations could hold similar drives for food that will help families or needy individuals get some help.

We are also asking for nominations of families or individuals who need a food box. You can nominate someone by filling out the form at the end of this story and mailing it to the address listed earlier in this story, or dropping it off at the L’Observateur office.