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Eagles Softball and Baseball team members sort and box food inside the Elizabeth Hoggatt Whatley Agriculture Complex.†

The spirit of Christmas came to ��ɫ����������ƵӰԺ last week†as†Communities In Schools (CIS) Coordinators and†volunteers gathered and boxed food to help feed local residents this holiday season.†The Spirt of Christmas food drive, sponsored by CIS, Brookshire's and Super 1 Foods, provided enough food for 500 families in Northeast Texas.

"We are tremendously grateful for the outpouring of support we received for this project. At CIS, we see first hand the dire problem of hunger in our community," Melody Henry, ��ɫ����������ƵӰԺ Associate Dean of Outreach Services and Executive Director of CIS, said.

The Elizabeth Hoggatt Whatley Agriculture Complex at ��ɫ����������ƵӰԺ was turned into a food packaging facility for several days. Volunteers picked up donations at various locations around the area and gathered to pack food into boxes. Those who helped out with collecting and sorting food included: CIS Coordinators, the ��ɫ����������ƵӰԺ Ag Club, the ��ɫ����������ƵӰԺ Eagles Softball, Baseball and Rodeo Teams, Student Government Association, Harts Bluff National Junior Honors Society, ��ɫ����������ƵӰԺ Dental Hygiene, ��ɫ����������ƵӰԺ Mentors,†Rico Willis,†Judy Jackson and Dr. Brad Johnson.

Food was collected from area schools including Chapel Hill ISD, Mount Pleasant ISD, Harts Bluff ISD, Daingerfield ISD, and Lone Star ISD. Other partners included Verizon Wireless, Brian Nichols of Mount Pleasant Eye Care, Judy Jackson, and Winfield ISD.

"It really puts you in the Christmas spirit when you see this many people working together to help their neighbors," Henry said. "I would like to add a special thanks to Brookshire's and Super 1 Foods ? especially manager Tony Mize ? for partnering with us. This drive would not have been possible without their support."

The donations are being distributed by CIS in coordination with local schools.†This is the†16^th††Year that CIS has been involved in†the†holiday†food drives. For more information, or to learn more about the mission of CIS, please call 903-434-8212.