Help make the holidays brighter for local neighbors in need through Maple Valley Food Band and Emergency Services.

Additional Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinner Foods will be distributed to registered clients during one of their regular shopping visits in both November and December. Your monetary donation will help stock our shelves with traditional holiday food items during those months.

Our buying power enables us to purchase food for about 53 cents to the retail grocer dollar.

Last season, 1,210 Thanksgiving and Christmas family meals were provided. Donations can be mailed to: P O Box 322, Maple Valley, WA 98038; or made online through our secure website at www.maplevalleyfoodbank.org/donate.

Children’s Christmas Gift Program: Help stock the gift center where registered parents can select Christmas gifts for their children, birth to age 15.

In 2012, gifts were provided to grateful parents of 1,040 local children. New, unwrapped gifts are needed for children, birth to age 12, and $25 Gift Cards for children, age 13-15.

Collection sites around the community include: Maple Valley Food Bank, MV and Covington Libraries, MV Community Center, Covington MultiCare, and MV Fire Station No. 80 and 81.

Parents may register for this program, in person, during food bank hours, Nov. 12 – Dec. 12. Gift distribution is by appointment only.

All Holiday Giving donations are needed by Dec. 15.

Maple Valley Food Band and Emergency Services is located at 21415 Maple Valley Highway and serves Black Diamond, Covington, Hobart, Maple Valley, Ravensdale and those within the boundaries of the Tahoma School District.