SCOTT CITY FIREFIGHTERS DELIVER FOOD

SCOTT CITY -- Although it is Christmastime and not Thanksgiving, there are plenty of area families thankful for the generosity of others this season.

Needy families in Southeast Missouri who would otherwise not have a holiday meal can enjoy food from baskets delivered by volunteer firefighters in Scott City and the Salvation Army.

More than 60 baskets of food were sorted and gathered by volunteer firefighters Tuesday and Wednesday in Scott City. The baskets were delivered Wednesday to home-bound people; others in town came to pick up the baskets from the gym at St. Joseph's School.

The program has been operating for 15 years. "We just always do this," said Fire Chief Jay Cassout.

Ten volunteer firefighters gathered the canned goods and perishables for the baskets. Each basket contained a 10- to 12-pound turkey, five pounds each of flour and sugar, canned vegetables, a dozen eggs, a gallon of milk, sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese boxes, a bag each of rice and beans, cake mix, a can of pumpkin, oranges, peanut butter and margarine.

The bread was donated by Lewis Bakery, milk donated by Prairie Farms and eggs donated by IGA, a local grocer in Scott City. IGA also sold the canned goods at cost or as close to wholesale prices as possible, Cassout said.

The fire department also received $600 in individual donations and a $2,000 donation from Blair Industries to be used for the Christmas food baskets. Each year employees at Blair hold contests and events that help raise money for the food baskets.

The Scott City Women's Club provides toys and clothes to the families that receive the food baskets.

In other parts of Southeast Missouri, the Salvation Army helps needy families with their holiday meal.

Food baskets will be ready to pick up at 8 this morning at 701 Good Hope in Cape Girardeau.

"We pack about 12 percent over because we know more people will be coming in," said Major Robert Gauthier.

About 30 volunteers spent Wednesday afternoon filling the nearly 1,000 baskets with canned vegetables, stuffing mix, potatoes, turkey fruit, hamburger and Hamburger Helper-type packets.

An area farmer donated two steers that were processed into ground beef. Each basket should receive about two pounds of beef.

The basket contents are intended to help families with a holiday meal, Gauthier said. "But they could get a couple meals with the hamburger and if they use the turkey leftovers," he said.

Pioneer Orchard donated 850 cases of apples to be used in the baskets. VFW Post 3838 donated 800 cases of canned goods over the weekend.

The Cape Girardeau Police Officers Association will be giving away turkeys and hams at the same time people are picking up the baskets at the Salvation Army. Donations from the community helped defray costs for the meat.

The baskets are used by families throughout Southeast Missouri and parts of Southern Illinois served by the Salvation Army. There were about 30 more applications for the food baskets this year than last, Gauthier said.