LAPLACE – The deadline to donate for the third annual L’Observateur &#8220Food for Families” program is Friday, December 15.

The program sponsored by this newspaper was begun to reach out to those at Christmas time who are not as fortunate as most, and could use some assistance with a food box this holiday season.

However we are asking the public, from individuals to local businesses, to help us make this a success by donating to the program.

From now until Friday, December 15 we are asking you to bring us non-perishable food items, or send in monetary donations that we will use to purchase food.

&#8220We use 100 percent of the donations to our program for needy families,” Publisher Kevin Chiri said. &#8220So I hope we will see a lot of individuals, as well as businesses hold food drives, to help us in the next week.”

On Saturday, Dec. 23, L’Observateur employees and their friends will personally deliver those food boxes to needy families.

Our program guarantees that every penny donated will provide food for needy people in the region, as all work to box the food and deliver it, as well as the purchase of boxes by L’Observateur, is handled by our employees here.

&#8220This is just a small way we can do something for those in our community who are not so fortunate this Christmas season,” Chiri added. &#8220I think that after the disaster we have all endured from Hurricane Katrina, it has made most of us know that we are truly blessed. And the best thing we can do when thinking of that, is to give back to others. I hope we will have many join with us this Christmas season to do just that.”

Individuals or businesses who would like to participate may mail monetary donations to &#8220Food for Families,” c/o L’Observateur, P.O. Box 1010, LaPlace, La., 70459. Or you can bring donations of non-perishable foods to our newspaper office just off Hwy. 44 (old Main Street), located at 116 Newspaper Dr.

We are also taking nominations for anyone you know who could use a food box this year.

If you would like to nominate a family or individual to receive a food box, fill out the form at the end of this story and mail it to &#8220Food for Families,” c/o L’Observateur, P.O. Box 1010, LaPlace, La., 70459.