Posted on: October 22, 2016

For More than 45 Years, Drive has Encouraged Heartfelt Giving Rockville, Maryland, Oct. 18 — The holiday season is upon us, and so is the opportunity to “Take Part and Give from the Heart” by contributing to the 2016 Holiday Drive. For more than four-and-a-half decades, Rockville has sponsored outreach that brings the community together each year to provide food baskets, gift certificates and toys to needy Rockville families throughout the Thanksgiving and December holidays. On Monday, Oct. 17, students from city schools joined the Mayor and Council to issue a proclamation announcing the start of the Holiday Drive for 2016. With the rising costs of food and toys, the city will need even more assistance this year from local churches, schools, civic organizations, service clubs, businesses, nonprofits and individuals to meet the community’s needs. In 2015, 1,271 children were referred to the city for holiday assistance. Through the 2015 Holiday Drive, 470 Rockville families received a Thanksgiving food basket and 122 seniors were treated to a Thanksgiving dinner. In December, 514 families were served by the Holiday Drive, 880 children received new toys or gift cards, and 166 households without children received a gift card for groceries. The Family Sponsorship program matched 62 families with sponsors who donated gifts tailored to each family member’s specific needs. Here are some ways you can make a difference: Organize a canned food drive (with a focus on healthier food like low-sodium beans and soups, no-sugar-added canned fruits and whole-wheat pasta). Pack or deliver Thanksgiving food baskets. Assist on-site with the toy distribution. Organize a toy or book drive to collect new unwrapped toys or books (new books for children of all ages, including teenagers, are needed). Donate $20 gift certificates for Giant or Target. Send a tax-deductible contribution (checks can be made payable to Rockville Holiday Drive Fund, and sent to 111 Maryland Ave., 1st Floor, Rockville, MD 20850.) The Holiday Drive relies entirely on monetary contributions, donated food, and new toys from local individuals, schools, businesses and organizations. You can donate food at City Hall and city recreation facilities until Thursday, Nov. 17 for the Thanksgiving holiday. Toys must be received by Thursday, Dec. 15. Food, toys and gift cards distributed by the Holiday Drive are donated or purchased using donated funds. All donations of money and goods are tax deductible. Find a list of food requested by the drive, a list of holiday gift items needed and more information at www.rockvillemd.gov/holidaydrive. # # # MEDIA CONTACT: Marylou Berg Director of Communication 240-314-8105 mberg@rockvillemd.gov

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