This week the Ironton City Welfare Mission will begin in earnest taking the names of families who seek assistance with both toys and food at Christmas time.

City Mission Director the Rev. Jeff Cremeans said 268 families have contacted him ahead of time, asking to be put on the mission’s Christmas list. Last year the mission provided food for 674 families and toys for 1,210 children.

Cremeans said he is thankful for all the organizations, businesses and private citizens who step forward, particularly this time of year, to help the mission meet the needs of the community’s neediest citizens.

“Some donate food or toys and others make financial gifts that we use to purchase things,” Cremeans said.

Volunteers donate their time in late November and December to sort through donations and try to fill each family’s needs and each child’s wishes. With 600 families requesting help, this is no easy task. Cremeans said he is grateful to those who give of their time of make someone else’s Christmas happier.

“This is all volunteer,” Cremeans said. “We couldn’t do what we do without their faithfulness. We only have a staff of three.”

Each food box has the basic staples families need: canned goods, a turkey, bread, potatoes. The size of the box depends on the size of the family.

The city mission aids the less fortunate both at Thanksgiving with a dinner and at Christmas with the food and toy boxes. It also provides other forms of assistance throughout the year.

“We’re still doing what we’ve always done and for the same purpose,” Cremeans said. “We want to be a door of hope to the less fortunate, to relieve their hurt during the holidays.”

Families will pick up the toy and food boxes Dec. 23 at the City Mission.