In many, the holiday season brings out a desire to help those less fortunate, though people often don't know how to help or what is needed.
With the unusually mild winter temperatures and scant snowfall this year, area thrift stores and charitable organizations have not yet experienced a run on winter coats and boots, but not all needs have been met.
Canned goods are in great demand by many central Kenai Peninsula agencies that help the needy.
"Our warehouse is short of canned goods and we always need turkeys," said Kenai Peninsula Food Bank Executive Director Linda Swarner.
Specifically, she said the Food Bank needs canned protein items such as Spam and other canned meats, peanut butter, tuna and beef stew. Canned fruits and vegetables are also needed.
"We're having our member agencies coming in now to put together their holiday boxes," Swarner said referring to the 60 member agencies served by the Food Bank throughout the year.
People may drop off items at the Food Bank warehouse near Kalifornsky Beach Road and Community College Drive, between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Jeannie Fanning, program director with the Salvation Army in Kenai, said canned goods would help that agency.
"People are signing up for Christmas (food) baskets now," Fanning said. The Salvation Army typically distributes between 400 and 500 baskets each year.
"It's up a little bit from last year," she said. "I'm kinda surprised."
The food baskets are given to families from Nikiski to Kenai and Soldotna, down to Clam Gulch and Ninilchik and over to Sterling.
People wishing to help the Salvation Army can bring canned food items into the Family Service Office next to the Salvation Army Thrift Store on the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai.
"I have to order in advance to get the best deals on food, so we're in pretty good shape, but canned goods are always helpful," Fanning said.
In Nikiski, people can assist North Star United Methodist Church and the Nikiski Neighbors who are helping 35 families this Christmas.
North Star Pastor Laura Skiba said, "We could still use turkeys and loaves of bread. We like to give them bread and butter so they can make turkey sandwiches after Christmas."
Skiba said Nikiski High School students conducted a canned-food drive and "the elementary school is doing one, so we're OK."
The groups also have a Noel Tree adorned with snowmen at the M&M Market in Nikiski. People are asked to pick up a snowman ornament and purchase the gift indicated on the snowman, then return the gift, which will be distributed to the families being helped.
"I was there today and there are still quite a few snowmen on the tree," Skiba said Tuesday.
Food items can be brought to the church at Mile 25.5 of the Kenai Spur Highway in Nikiski between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
"We're distributing the food boxes (Dec. 21) so the donations need to be in by Wednesday, Dec. 19," she said.
The group also has little red boxes at Nikiski businesses and at High Speed Gear in Kenai to collect cash contributions people might want to make to help their efforts.
The Bishop's Attic thrift store in Soldotna is reporting an abundance of clothing and Christmas decorations this year.
"We've got plenty of clothes," said manager Linda Brown. "We're doing really well. There's no shortage of anything."
At Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church in Kenai, Sister Joyce Ross said, "We can always use baby things and clothes for toddlers ... they're always wearing out the knees."
She said the church has a clothing drop box at the back of the parking lot open 24 hours a day for donations.
Phil Hermanek can be reached at phillip.hermanek@peninsulaclarion.com.
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