Rockbridge Area Christmas Basket Program Needs Funds and Volunteers   The Rockbridge Area Christmas Basket Program gets underway on Monday, Nov. 30, with an organizational meeting at 7:30 p.m. at the Lexington Presbyterian Church, 120 S. Main St., Room 113. Now in its 61st year, the program provides food and toys to needy families at Christmas. Last year the program packed and delivered baskets to more than 2,700 people, including 961 children.      At the Nov. 30 meeting, organizers of the program will review the setup and logistics for the packing and delivery of the baskets. All clubs, churches and civic organizations involved with delivery of the baskets should have a representative present. Any other interested individual or organization is also welcome to attend.       The Christmas Basket Program is accepting cash donations now. “With anticipated increases in both recipients and costs, we desperately need donations to help us make a happy holiday possible for the needy in Rockbridge,” said Ab Hammond, one of the program’s chief organizers. “The success of this monumental effort depends entirely on support from the community.” Contributions to the Rockbridge Area Christmas Basket Program may be sent to P.O. Box 1030, Lexington, VA 24450. To fill out an application for a basket, either for yourself or for someone else, please visit the RARA Food Pantry at 712 N. Main St.; the Department of Social Services at 20 E. Preston St.; or the Rockbridge Area Free Clinic at 25 Northridge Lane (near Walmart and Woody Chevrolet). The deadline for applications is Thursday, Dec. 3. If you are interested in volunteering, please attend either the Nov. 30 organizational meeting or the Saturday, Dec. 19, packing and delivering of the baskets. That will take place from 8 a.m. to around noon, at the Howard P. Anderson Arena at the Virginia Horse Center. Hundreds of individuals are needed to pack the baskets, so everyone in the community is invited to help with one of Rockbridge County’s oldest Christmas traditions.

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