By CHRIS COLLINS

Baker City Herald

As Christmas approaches, various Baker City organizations, agencies and individuals are joining forces to help make the holidays happier for those who otherwise might have to go without this season.

The Baker City Police Department has joined forces with The Salvation Army to collect items for Christmas food baskets that are distributed to families in need, said Police Chief Wyn Lohner.

Anyone who has nonperishable food items to donate may drop them in the food barrel at the police department at 1768 Auburn Ave. or call the department reception desk, 541-524-2014, to ask for an officer to come by to pick them up.

Lohner said the police department also is sponsoring a Christmas tree

decorated with Salvation Army Angel gift tags. He encouraged community

residents to stop by, take a tag off the tree and purchase the

wished-for gift for a child. Unwrapped gifts may be returned to the

police department or also picked up by an officer, Lohner said.

Holli Diamond, The Salvation Army’s Eastern Oregon Social Services

director, said these other businesses and agencies also are

participating in the Angel Tree program: Don’s Jewelry, 1937 Main St.;

US Bank, 2000 Main St.; Sterling Bank, 1990 Washington Ave.; DandB

Supply, 3515 Pocahontas Road; Baker City Herald, 1915 First St.;

Community Bank, 1190 Campbell St.; U.S. Forest Service, 3285 11th St.;

Ryder Bros. Stationery Store, 1735 Main St.; Baker Middle School, 2320

Washington Ave.; and Baker High School, 2500 E St.

The Christmas kettle bellringers also have begun their volunteer effort

to garner support for The Salvation Army’s Christmas gift program, food

boxes and other programs throughout the year. Diamond said volunteers

are always needed to ring bells from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 6

p.m. Monday through Saturday until Christmas. Those interested in

participating are asked to first fill out a volunteer application at

The Salvation Army at 2505 Broadway St.

“We’ll squeeze them in whenever and wherever,” she said. “We’re really flexible.”

Kettles will be placed in front of Bi-Mart, 700 Campbell St.; Safeway,

1205 Campbell St.; DandB Supply; and Albertsons, 1120 Campbell St.

Diamond said she has seen a consistent growth in the need for help in

the community and this year she expects to prepare 350 food boxes and

provide gifts for 350 children. There are 50 spots left for children’s

gifts and another 50 left for those needing help with their holiday

food supply, she said.

Families who would like to participate in either program should visit

The Salvation Army to fill out an intake form and get their names on

the list, she said.

All gifts purchased for a child on an Angel Tree should be returned

unwrapped to the location from which the Angel Tree tag was taken or to

The Salvation Army Thrift Store by Dec. 17. Gifts will be distributed

to families on Dec. 20.

The food baskets are scheduled to go out on Dec. 18, Diamond said.