TRUCKEE, Calif. and#8212; The Truckee Community Christmas directors are coordinating applications received via local agencies and schools and representing the neediest families in town, and the number of applicants are exceeding all previous years. To help provide for the townand#8217;s most needy families, the Truckee Community Christmas program oversees the collection and distribution of food, toys and coats for several hundred local families and low income seniors during the holiday season. When compiling your gift lists, please remember to add the purchase of a gift for a local child or senior citizen, or take the time to purchase extra food items while shopping at the Truckee Safeway or Save Mart stores. If you have coats or snow clothes that your family can part with, drop them off at Church of the Mountains in Downtown Truckee.

The following is an update on all the Truckee Community Christmas efforts that are currently in full swing.

Food: Food collection barrels can be found at local grocery stores along with suggested food lists for seniors and families (posted by the food barrels). Gift card donations are also gratefully accepted. Questions? Contact Lynn Richardson at 582-2422.

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Toys: Toy collection barrels can be found at participating banks, real estate offices, schools and businesses. New unwrapped toys can be placed in these bins at Plumas Bank, Bank of the West, U.S. Bank, Citizens Bank, Safeway, Save Mart, CVS, Rite-Aid, Truckee Travel, Porter Simon Law Offices, Sierra Sun, Truckee Elementary, Glenshire Elementary, Glenshire/Devonshire Residents Association clubhouse and at the Truckee High School. Toys that are often in short supply include gifts for infants and teens. To volunteer to wrap toys, call Alissa Just at 587-6681, ext. 11.

Wrapping and Sorting: Mark your calendar for Dec. 16 between noon and 8 p.m. and Dec. 17 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. when toys will be wrapped at Sierra Mountain Community Education Center.

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Coats: Warm, clean coats are being collected at the Church of the Mountains, located on Church Street, in Downtown Truckee. A collection barrel is placed outside the church doors under the covered porch, therefore donations can be dropped off anytime. For more information call Mindy Harrington at 582-4752.

Senior Holiday Wish Program: Locals wanting to make the season brighter for our areaand#8217;s low income seniors should contact Jesse Griffin at 587-5152 or e-mail xmas.wish@hotmail.com. Area homebound seniors are being taken care of this year by the Truckee Tahoe Community Foundationand#8217;s Queen of Hearts organization. For more info on this effort, call 587-1776.

Contributions: Can be mailed to Truckee Community Christmas, Inc., P.O. Box 2955, Truckee, CA 96160. Monetary contributions will be primarily used to purchase food gift cards. All donations are tax deductible. For general information about any component of Truckee Community Christmas, call the Truckee Donner Chamber of Commerce at 587-2757. For up-to-the minute news, follow Facebook!

Finally, the Truckee Community Christmas program wishes to extend its gratitude to one and all for their heartfelt donations, help and generosity, which truly does make a difference for our townand#8217;s neediest families.

and#8212; Submitted to aedgett@sierrasun.com by Switchback Public Relations + Marketing, Inc.