Collection barrels for the Maple Valley Food Bank will be in the community through Saturday awaiting holiday food and children’s Christmas gift donations.

Each year the food bank provides families in need with turkey dinners to take home to prepare during the holiday season.

In 2011 1,170 Thanksgiving and Christmas meals were distributed during the holidays. Support from the community also stocks the Children’s Christmas Gift Center with new gifts for children from birth to 12 years old with more than 1,000 youngsters receiving gifts selected for them by their parents a year ago.

Food bank staff expect the need to be even greater this year.

Flyers with information about food donations, children’s gift tags and locations are available in many local churches and businesses as well as the food bank, the Maple Valley and Covington library branches, the Greater Maple Valley Community Center, Covington MultiCare and Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety stations 80, 81 and 83.

Food and gift donations must be dropped off by Saturday, however, monetary donations are always welcome.Meal and food distribution is by appointment only.

Maple Valley Food Bank and Emergency Services helps clients from Black Diamond, Covington, Hobart, Ravensdale and those living in the Tahoma School District Boundaries.

For more information call 425-432-8139 or log on to www.maplevalleyfoodbank.org.Maple Valley Food Bank &Emergency Services’ collection barrels will be out around the community until December 15 – awaiting your Holiday Food and Children’s Christmas Gift donations.

Each year, MVFB&ES provides local families in need with turkey feasts, complete with the traditional trimmings, to take and prepare at home.

Thanks to the generosity of this community, 1170 Thanksgiving and Christmas family meals were distributed last year.

Generous community support also stocks our special Children’s Christmas Gift Center with a bounty of new, unwrapped gifts for children from birth to age 12.

In 2011, 1009 children received Christmas gifts selected just for them by their parents. We expect the need this holiday season to be even greater!!