NEOSHO, Mo. — This holiday season marks the 22nd year of a tradition that sets Neosho apart as a truly caring community.

The Food Basket Brigade effort is under way as volunteers begin gathering names of needy families and galvanizing support to once again make sure that no one in the area is hungry over the holidays.

“The information we’re getting is that this year there will be more need than ever,” said Dave Winegardner, one of the Brigade’s founders and longtime supporter. “Our goal this year is 110,000 pounds of food, so we can feed the estimated 1,200 families in need.”

Last year, the Brigade supplied baskets for 1,106 families, which amounted to just over 3,000 people.

According to one of this year’s co-organizers, Larry Johnson, the Food Basket Brigade effort involves an “amazing” number of volunteers from the community. Each year individuals donate time in planning, picking up door-to-door donations, shopping for items, and handing out the food.

“It is a great citywide effort to help those in need have a good holiday meal,” Johnson said.

The Food Basket Brigade works closely with the Neosho Help Center in identifying families in need and securing the typical items that would create satisfying meals over the holiday. Each year, the baskets include turkey, canned vegetables, eggs, milk, cereal, juices, potatoes, and other odds and ends.

Organizers expect this year’s economic concerns to have a twofold impact.

“I know donations will possibly be down, and I am sure the number needing food will increase,” Johnson said. “But I still feel like what’s needed to meet the need will be there. This effort never ceases to amaze me, how everything falls together as needed. “

This year, organizers are facing a new looming concern — where to stage the food storage and distribution for the 2010 holiday effort. The Neosho Armory building has been the command center for years, but because of upcoming changes for the building use, a new site is needed for future Brigade work.

“I think it truly reflects the great giving spirit of the community. For me it is an effort that you just cannot help but get involved in, once you see the need and all that goes on,” said Johnson, adding that it only takes volunteers “one time” of involvement before they are “hooked” on the program.

Individuals wishing to sign up to receive a food basket should do so at the Neosho Help Center, 214 E. Main St., beginning Nov. 18. Sign-ups are taken 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays. A Saturday sign-up is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 5.

Door-to-door canvassing of Neosho for nonperishable food donations is Saturday, Dec. 12. The following Saturday, Dec. 19, families who have signed up can received the food baskets.

“Every year, our bottom line is collect as much food as we possibly can and serve as many people as we possibly can,” Winegardner said.