Bossier Sheriff's Office kicks off 2012 Christmas food drive

Bossier Sheriff's Office kicked off its Christmas food drive today by delivering barrels to schools all throughout Bossier Parish. 

More than 120 food barrels will be delivered today and tomorrow, and students and faculty will fill them with canned goods and non-perishable food items over the upcoming weeks in support of Bossier Parish: Operation Blessing. 

Many of the students enjoy some friendly competition throughout the school to see who can bring the most food items.  At Central Park Elementary School this morning, students divided into yellow and green teams as they began the food drive program.  Suzette Hadden, principal of Central Park, said the school donated more than 3,000 food items last year and overflowed their food barrels with food all along the hallway.

Bossier Parish Schools is also encouraging voters to bring some food items for donations if they cast their vote this Tuesday at one of the schools.  Residents can also bring food items by the three Bossier Sheriff Substations located on Benton Road, Viking Drive and Arthur Ray Teague Parkway.

Once the food barrels are picked up, they will become part of more than 500 food boxes that Deputies and Posse members will deliver to needy residents throughout Bossier Parish just before Christmas. 

"Operation Blessing is a program we care deeply about," said Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington, "and everyone should be able to enjoy a good meal during Christmas." 

The food bank program run by the Bossier Sheriff's Office was started in 1998 to not only help the elderly and needy during the holidays, but also throughout the year.