Throughout this holiday season, citizens have once again had theopportunity to help the needy through a food pantry drive sponsoredby The DAILY LEADER and Bank of Brookhaven.

Monday is the deadline for contributions to the drive that willdistribute funds to assist the St. Francis of Assisi/St. VincentDePaul, Union Hall Baptist Church, and Brookhaven Outreach Ministryfood pantries. Funds will be distributed equally among the threecharitable organizations.

Pantry officials and volunteers say the funds received help notonly during the holidays but throughout the year. Some money, theysay, is used to meet immediate needs during the Christmas seasonwhile other funds from the drive are used to replenish shelves inorder for the pantries to provide assistance later in the year.

Donations, which are being accepted at The DAILY LEADER officesand at the Bank of Brookhaven, are recognized in the newspaper.

We appreciate all the donations that have been made. We wouldask everyone to consider making a contribution to the food pantrydrive and help those less fortunate during this season ofgiving.