For elders 55 and older in the community

Center 64 Food Pantry in Vian will be handing out food items on Wednesday, Dec. 20, beginning at 12 noon, for elders age 55 and up who are in need of a Christmas meal this holiday season.

Doug White, with the food pantry, said the event is being sponsored with help from Sweet Nana’s and Harp’s in Vian, and Don’s Mobile Homes in Sallisaw.

“We appreciate Sherrie at Sweet Nana’s, Tony at Don’s Mobile Homes and our local Harp’s for helping sponsor this event,” White said. “They have been very helpful and we can’t tell them how much we appreciate them.”

White said the center will be handing out a turkey with all the fixings, and one dessert to each elder that comes into the food pantry at that time.

“That way they will have what they need to prepare a holiday meal,” he said. “All they have to do is walk into the front door and we will hand them the items they need. We are accepting dessert donations to accompany the meal and anyone wishing to make a monetary donation can also do so, which is taxdeductible. We just want to be able to help anyone that might have a need, and we especially don’t want our elders doing without a meal this Christmas season.”

White said other items in need by the food pantry are canned meats, such as chicken, ham, tuna and SPAM; powdered eggs and milk; sugar, flour and cornmeal. He said anyone wishing to donate lunch meat or other meats are also welcome to do so because they have freezers to store the meat in until it is used.

“These are items that people don’t normally think about, but they are things that are needed to prepare a meal with,” he said. “We are also accepting oral hygiene items like toothbrushes, toothpaste – those kind of things.”

Center 64 Food Pantry is located in downtown Vian in the old Town of Vian building.

For additional information on how you can help, contact White at 918-773-2187 or Laurie Moore at 918-5712457.