With the holiday season in full-swing, Owensville Mayor Kevin McFadden reminded city meeting-goers Monday of ways to help neighbors in need through the community project Operation Christmas.

Helping Hands Outreach Center’s Operation Christmas is an annual event that provides local families with holiday assistance in the form of food, gifts and more. Last year, it served over 168 households and 496 individuals. Needed is community support through donations, “adoption” of one or more families through the project or volunteering.

Donations of canned goods, non-perishable foods, personal care items and household paper products can be dropped off in red bins around town at local businesses or banks. Donations can also be made by dropping them off at Helping Hands Outreach Center during operating hours. As Helping Hands takes food donations for several programs including the Gasconade County R-2 School District Backpack Program, donors should advise staff of which program the donation is for. Tax-deductible monetary donations can be mailed to Operation Christmas at 1802 Southridge Lane, Owensville with checks made payable to Operation Christmas.

Those seeking to adopt one or more families during the holiday season can learn more about the guidelines by calling Danah Budnik at 573-578-5745. Adoptions opened Oct. 28 and close Wednesday, Nov. 26.

Volunteer opportunities are available through Helping Hands directly or at an upcoming Operation Christmas activity including the main sort of canned goods Monday, Dec. 1, at 4 p.m., the final sort and inventory of goods Saturday, Dec. 6, at 9 a.m. or packing boxes and wrapping gifts Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 9 a.m.

Adoption gifts can be dropped off during the first two events.

Helping Hands is open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A drive-through mobile market, the FARMS Program, is planned for Friday, Nov. 21. Volunteers are asked to report by 9:30 a.m. to help with the offload of the St. Louis Area Foodbank truck and sorting of delivered items. Distribution is typically held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

No proof of income is needed for assistance through the FARMS Program mobile market.

A Missouri Ozark Community Action (MOCA) representative is available at Helping Hands Monday through Friday from 8 p.m. to 4 p.m. with appointments preferred to assist with utilities and other financial assistance based programs. The Ministerial Alliance is there from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Thursdays for financial assistance and counseling services. For more information about Helping Hands, call 573-437-8880.