The Columbia Lions Club and the Sunsnappers will deliver Christmas food boxes in Columbia and surrounding areas again this year. The registration deadline to receive a box is Sunday, Nov. 30, or whenever the registration reaches 600 families. Families may register at http://www.columbialions.org/christmas or by emailing ColumbiaChristmasFoodBoxes@gmail.com. The food box delivery will take place on Sunday, Dec. 21.

Each family will receive all the fixings for a traditional Christmas dinner, including a turkey, mashed potatoes, filling, and canned goods, as well as pantry staples such as eggs, milk, butter, and cereal.

Families in Columbia and the surrounding areas with ZIP codes 17512, 17547, 17368, 17554, 17582, 17575, and 17538 are eligible to receive a food box.

The Christmas food box project began with the Columbia Jaycees in 1982. Over the years, the distribution has grown significantly, and the organizers rely on community members to help with delivery of the boxes. More information on delivery times and locations will be available closer to the December date.

Club members solicit local businesses and individuals for donations to help cover the cost of the food boxes, along with contributing Lions Club money collected throughout the year.

Volunteers will also deliver a hot Christmas dinner on Sunday, Dec. 28, to residents of local senior apartments in lieu of a food box. These meals will be prepared by the Foresters of America and delivered by the Columbia Lions Club, Sunsnappers, and other community volunteers. Christmas dinners will be delivered to residents of apartments and personal care homes including Trinity House, St. Peters Apartments, Our Home of Hope, Marietta Senior Apartments, Sylvan Retreat Apartments, Faith Friendship Ministries, Hershey Mill Home, and Landisville Apartments.