More than 100 volunteers in Stoddard County worked for two days to prepare 3,000 sacks of food for distribution to those in need during the Christmas holidays. The volunteers began gathering at the Stoddard County Gospel Mission Thursday to stuff sacks with non-perishable items. The perishable items will be in a separate sack to be stuffed prior to distribution this week.

Gospel Mission executive director Kim Slavings said this is the 20th year for the program, and it has grown every year. The program serves families in all parts of Stoddard County. She explains each qualifying family will receive two sacks of groceries in their basket, which means 1,500 families will be served. The first basket, the one assembled on Thursday, includes flour, sugar, canned vegetables and boxed pasta products. The second sack includes potatoes, onions, fresh fruit and a whole chicken. The chicken for the program is donated by Tyson Foods in Dexter. Tyson donated 1,500 chickens with an estimated $5,100 for the program this year.

The baskets will be delivered to Puxico and Advance on Monday. On Tuesday, 200 baskets will be distributed to families in the Puxico area. The baskets will be distributed in the southern part of the county from the Dexter location on Wednesday. On Thursday, 200 more baskets will go out to families in the Advance area.