While Christmas assistance programs and the Salvation Army go hand-in-hand, there’s more to the help provided by the social services branch of the organization: much needed food.

For more than three decades, the Salvation Army has been instrumental in providing food for residents in Colbert, Franklin and Lauderdale counties who are registered for Christmas assistance as well as those registered for Meals on Wheels.

All together, 1,200 bags of food — each bag consisting of food items for a traditional Christmas dinner — will be given out during the Salvation Army’s distribution dates on Dec. 18 and 19.

Some of the food is donated from local schools holding canned food drives, while much is purchased by the Salvation Army.

“We pack the bags for each family according to the number of people in the household,” said Salvation Army office manager Patricia Clemmons. “The Lions Club packs the bags for us every year and the Meals on Wheels volunteers deliver them. It’s a Christmas tradition for us.”

The Salvation Army depends heavily on funds generated during the Christmas season to continue offering such services. The Empty Table Fund, in its 38th year, collects public donations to go directly to the Salvation Army. To contribute to the fund, mail donations to TimesDaily Empty Table Fund, c/o Controller, P.O. Box 797, Florence, Ala., 35631.

Lisa Singleton-Rickman can be reached at 256-740-5735 or lisa.singleton-rickman@TimesDaily.com.