The Samaritan Center in Jefferson City is asking for donations to assist clients during the holidays.
The organization includes a 12- to 14-pound turkey in food parcels for families coming to the center throughout November to assist with the preparation of Thanksgiving dinner.
However, with the demand increasing for services, there is even more need of food and financial donations this year.
The center is asking for the following items: brown sugar, canned yams, marshmallows, gelatin, canned fruit cocktail, dry stuffing, chicken broth and 12- to 14-pound frozen turkeys.
There is also a need for community members to adopt families and senior citizens for Christmas. The cost to adopt the family depends on its size, organizers said. The minimum expectation is $30 per child and $15 per adult for gifts as well as an additional $15 per person for food.
There are still more than 140 families needing a sponsorship for Christmas. Contact Andrea Pauley at 634-7776 for information.
Santa's Workshop is another program through the center; it's aimed to assist families during the Christmas season. The workshop seeks to cover families who do not receive adoption sponsorship. The new toy program asks for a $10, unwrapped toy to distribute to children 13 and under. Distribution begins Nov. 29. Donations are currently being accepted.
For more information on taking advantage of a program or donating, call the Samaritan Center at 573/634-7776.