Forty food baskets were sent out to area residents in need Sunday, courtesy of the Iola Elks Lodge.
Members carved out a large portion of their time Sunday to pick up about $1,450 worth of groceries, make up the food baskets, then deliver them through the afternoon.
The 40 baskets is the most extensive Christmas food basket effort in recent memory, organizers said.
The project got a needed boost when one of the Elks members — who wished to remain anonymous — paid for 40 hams that accompanied the baskets.
“That alone was worth about $300,” Mike Jewell, one of the project organizers, said.
The rest of the funds were generated through annual dues paid by Elks and through various fundraisers through the year.
The recipients are decided after Elks members visit with the Iola Area Ministerial Association or other agencies, such as Hope Unlimited, to determine who needs assistance.
A group of 18 Elks were on hand Sunday for the distribution effort, which greatly reduced the time demands on each.
“Last year, there were only three of us, and it took most of the day,” said Christina Ramirez. “This year went a lot smoother.”
