The Okotoks Food Bank's Adopt A Family program will once again be providing nutritious food hampers to families in need at Christmas time.

Families in need who would like to receive a hamper can now register for one and those wishing to sponsor a hamper are invited to help out by adopting a family.

Okotoks Food Bank Executive Director Sheila Hughes says last year they helped over two hundred families, and they are expecting to serve at least that many this year.

"We are expecting at least the number of people that we assisted last year, and that was 225 hampers," Hughes says. "So that was 225 families that we helped in the area and we expect to see at least that many because our numbers, as far as the hampers that we do on a regular basis, have increased by 15 per cent this year from last."

Hughes says the Adopt a Family program can help alleviate the stress associated with the holidays by helping to put a nutritious meal on the table for families in need. The wholesome hampers include a variety of food items, including everything needed for either a turkey or ham dinner.

"If they're having difficulties providing their families with food on a regular basis throughout the year, it becomes double that, or more at Christmas time," Hughes notes. "It's much more stressful for them. So, if we can take one more thing off their plate it just helps them have a more relaxing and stress-free Christmas which is good for everybody in the family."

Hughes says all the information needed to register to receive a Christmas hamper or to adopt a family this Christmas can be found on the Okotoks Food Bank's website.

For more information, click here.

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