For 25 years, God’s Helping Hands has been feeding hundreds of needy families during the Christmas season.

“God’s Helping hands began 26 years ago,” said Director Richard Mc-Cool. “But we didn’t do it that first year.”

But the charitable organization, that gives away food, clothes and other items throughout the year, hasn’t missed a Christmas since that first one a quarter of a century ago.

This year the Christmas Box Giveaway was held Saturday, December 20, beginning at 9 a.m. at the First Freewill Baptist Church in Eufaula.

Helping guide God’s Helping Hands is an executive committee, which reaches out to churches, schools, organizations and individuals who make helping the event a success year in and year out.

All those who help, especially an army of volunteers, are greatly appreciated.

Jason Burns said through the years the number of families that have needed help has risen and fallen, depending on the economy.

He said there were more in need of assistance in the early years because there were fewer groups helping feed people.

The recent decision by the federal government to put a hold on SNAP funding, money used by millions of people in need, contributed to this year’s problems – but there were not as many people as had been expected, again because of more resources.

McCool said 163 families registered for a Christmas Box, which are filled with food, this year.

In addition, 106 families, using a local home health company who registered for them, received a Christmas Box.

“A total of 269 families will be helped this year,” McCool said. “Those families consist of 730 people.”