Free Christmas Holiday Baskets: Wisconsin

Last year, the Holiday Basket Project gave 1,233 low-income families in the area some much-needed season's greetings.

"The whole idea is to just provide a nice Christmas for struggling families, and this year we're thinking there may be more, because of the economic situation," a coordinator Karen Aldinger said.
The 2008 Holiday Basket Project provides a holiday meal and gifts at Christmas to low-income and working-poor families. A nonprofit program of Operation Bootstrap, it accepts applications from local families in need and matches each with a sponsor.

People can sponsor a family with a food basket containing items for a holiday meal or a gift certificate from a local grocery store, plus gifts for the children.
It will cost about $75 to fill a basket for a family of four.

There are about 25 food items suggested to put in the basket, such as a 10-pound turkey, stuffing mix, two cans of pie filling and 12 eggs. It also suggests additional items that can't be purchased with food stamps, such as toilet paper, toothpaste and shampoo. Stocking stuffers, such as washable markers, storybooks, mittens and puzzles, also can be included.
Sponsors will deliver the baskets from Dec. 16 to 23.

"It's a wonderful way for the community to get involved in providing a special Christmas for those that aren't well off and less fortunate," Aldinger said. "It makes (sponsors') Christmas special when they can make someone else's Christmas better."

St. Paul Lutheran Church in Stevens Point has been making 75 holiday baskets a year for almost 30 years, said Bonnie Lund, project coordinator at the church.
She sends a letter to the congregation every year, and this year she requested $12,000 in donations for supplies. The church also has a mitten tree, where people can donate mittens and other gifts. Everything goes toward the baskets.
Several youths from the congregation do the shopping

for the baskets.
"What I'm most proud of is that we have so many young people involved," Lund said. "It's ... the wonderful commitment that our church has in reaching out to the community."

To get involved or for more information, call Holiday Basket Project at
344-9950.

Free Christmas Food Baskets, Illinois

Requests from low-income residents for a holiday food basket are being accepted by the East Peoria Youth Council.

Request form to send in by Dec, 3rd.

The Youth Council is now in its 27th year of conducting its Christmas Food Basket Program. Approximately 300 baskets were distributed in 2007.

Those eligible for a food basket are low-income families. All recipients must reside in the corporate city limit of East Peoria or in the boundaries of East Peoria Community High School District 309. To keep the program fair, Youth Council members check to make sure those rquesting baskets are from East Peoria or Creve Coeur, and that they are not receiving a basket from other area groups.The baskets contain a gift certificate for meat, canned corn and green beans, pork and beans, macaroni and cheese, brownie mix, gelatin, applesauce, spaghetti and sauce, a loaf of bread, apples, potatoes and other vegetables, soup, peanut butter and corn bread mix.

The request deadline is Dec. 3, and requests must be made on the downloadable form at the top of this page. Forms are also available at EastSide Centre, 1 EastSide Drive, and East Peoria City Hall, 100 S. Main St. Recipients will be notified by mail about basket distribution, set for Dec. 19.
For more information, contact Paula Smart at East Peoria City Hall, 698-4715.