The DAILY LEADER and the Bank of Brookhaven are again joiningforces to lead a donation drive to help local charities through theHoliday Food Pantry Fund.

A fund account has been set up at the bank to accept donationsto aid food pantries in the Lincoln County area. The account willbe open until Dec. 17, and checks will be issued the week beforeChristmas, said John Lowman, the newspaper’s general manager.

Last year’s campaign saw 76 individuals or businesses contribute$7,800, which was divided between Brookhaven Outreach Ministries,St. Francis of Assisi/St. Vincent DePaul Ministries and Union HallBaptist Church. Those organizations, in turn, used the funds tohelp needy families in the area.

“I was very pleased,” Shannon Aker, Bank of Brookhaven seniorvice-president, said of last year’s effort.

The bank and the newspaper each have contributed $250 to helpkick off this year’s campaign.

Donations can be made by anyone. They can be made in honor of afriend or loved one or can be made anonymously. Checks should bemade payable to the Holiday Food Pantry and can been accepted atthe either the bank’s Brookway Boulevard location or at thenewspaper office on North Railroad Avenue.

Donations will be recognized daily in the newspaper.

“Every day we’ll list every donor,” Lowman said.

Lowman has seen the benefits of last year’s efforts at St.Francis. He said they were appreciated and sponsors hoped to beable to do more this year.

“We’ve been able to help more families than we ever havebefore,” Lowman said.

Aker said the pantries need help in providing assistance tothose in need.

“With the economy and a lot of these organizations not havingthe resources, it’s a needed thing,” Aker said.

Aker said the pantry campaign is a good partnership between thelocal newspaper and the local bank.

“That’s what both places are about: doing something to helpLincoln County,” Aker said.

Aker said people of Brookhaven and Lincoln County have alwayscared about helping those in need. The food pantry campaign is away for the newspaper and the bank to assist in helping others.

“Christmas is about giving, and this is in some small way givingback to the community,” Aker said.