By Lori Kersey

The Tribune

Mark your calendars; the time to register for Christmas with Dignity is approaching. Each year at Christmas time the program, a ministry of St. Paul Lutheran Church, provides food baskets for 600 families in the area.

This year the church is taking registrations Nov. 15, 16, 17 and 18. Boxes can be picked up Dec. 11.

“Basically the only criteria is that they have to live in either Greenup, Boyd, Lawrence or Scioto counties,” Sherry Popp, chair of ministry, said. “Most of the people that come through are low income but the church does not ask them for a medical card or a show of their income.”

She added that the church usually knows several of the people who receive baskets because it offers a mobile food bank twice each month.

The program was started seven years ago. For the first few years, the church took donations of gifts and had each of the families pick out presents. In recent years the church has partnered with a church in Worthington to purchase food from a company called Treasure Box. At $30 each, the boxes contain between $65 and $100 worth of food and should feed a family of four for one week. The boxes are offered at no cost to the families.

The church raises money for the program through community donations and grants.

“It would be nice to do more but 600 boxes is $18,000,” Popp said. “If we’re lucky and raise more than that, next year we’re hoping to do more.”

Hunger is a problem in the area especially for the elderly, handicapped and the working poor, Popp said. Many times people are forced to choose between paying for rent or medication or buying food.

“This is just one way we can help,” Popp said. “We can’t make it perfect but this does ease the strain for these people.”

The church’s pastor, Rev. David Ritchie, said the program allows the congregation to follow Jesus’ example in feeding the hungry. It’s a call that’s especially relevant in the tough economic times we’re in, he said.

“We’re just doing what we’re taught by Jesus to show people that he does love them even through tough times,” Ritchie said.

Anyone would like to donate to the program may call the church at 532-4727.

Registration times at the church

4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 15 and Wednesday, Nov. 17

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16 and Thursday, Nov. 18

Box pickup time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 11