In a project that started in 1979 with three families participating, volunteers from Heidelberg Lutheran Church started packing boxes to provide a real holiday dinner for area residents in need.

Carl Hein had been making Christmas visits to the families and suggested they could also use some food.

"We asked the church council if they would consider doing it," said Joan Hein. "The next year, there were six or seven families. The United Church of Christ heard of the project and joined."

Nonperishable food items, potatoes and eggs are donated with a special offering paying for other necessities.

Vickie Phillips said her entire family was there to help pack boxes.

A few years ago, Lehigh Career and Technical School's material handling logistics technology classes started providing new books, available at the packing event, to anyone who wanted them.