CEAP News

Community Emergency Assistance Program’s (CEAP) Brooklyn Park office hosts its annual Holiday Distribution on December 16, 2009 from 8:00am to 8:00pm at the Brooklyn Park Armory. They’ll be giving out toys, and holiday food to local families in need.

Last year CEAP gave over 635 local families, including 1,870 children, a holiday they deserve. Children received two gifts and a stocking stuffer, while the entire family received a holiday food basket including potatoes, stuffing, gravy, dessert mix, and a gift card for holiday meat.

Over the past year CEAP has seen its food shelf usage skyrocket. Through September of 2009, CEAP has given out more food than in all of 2008. Sixteen percent more, to be exact. “We’ve given over 405,000 pounds of food to our families,” says CEAP President, Byron Laher. Families, indeed! CEAP’s staff is seeing an average of 100 additional families each month when compared to 2008.

“We’ve been able to meet this demand with the help of generous donors, who’ve continued to give during these trying times,” says Laher. This year’s Holiday Distribuion will be no exception. CEAP is predicting an increase in families registering for the event. And in order to accommodate these additional families they’re asking donors to remember those in need this holiday season.

Start a food or gift drive, or make a monetary donation. For ideas, please visit CEAP at www.ceap.org or call 763-450-3664. All donations need to be brought to CEAP’s Brooklyn Park office by December 11th if you’d like them to be used for this year’s distribution.