The Elves arrived from a variety of places this week as good works proceeded for Hood River Christmas Project and FISH Food Bank. From the high school and middle schools, and from students in the elementary schools, from churches, and from groups including the Lions, the food and gifts rolled in.

More than 2,000 of the county’s 21,000 residents (476 families) will be served this weekend by Hood River Christmas Project, an annual (but year-long) project to bring some extra food and good cheer to low-income families and seniors. The figures are about the same as 2007, but what changed this year is a wider variety of donations for the needy, according to project coordinator Bruce Holmson and other sources.

People brought plenty of staples such as cooking oils, rice and flour to the Wy’east Middle School food drive. “This will really help us,” said Lorinda Hoffman of FISH.

Oregon Food Bank donated hundreds of pounds of potatoes (some of them weighed as much as a pound apiece) and onions, in addition to the canned goods and other foods they sold at a bargain rate to the food bank and Christmas Project.

Dakine donated more than 300 hats, and Wal-Mart kicked in coats for many needy families.

The high school leadership team not only got the students together to bring the food to the Expo Center for distribution, but organized it by food type ahead of time, increasing the efficiency of sorting at Expo Center, according to Holmson.

Quite simply, people helped out in many ways. And it made a big difference, Holmson said.

Last but not least were the ample cash donations that went far to buy food at wholesale rates from local grocers.

(This looks like the last year the Expo Center will serve as distribution center for the Christmas Project, as the Port of Hood River is negotiating a change in lease for the building. Holmson said the project committee is looking at the fairgrounds in 2008.)

As for the cash donations, people were truly generous this year. Holmson announced that there is enough left over for “seed money” for 2008. Further good news: Holmson will be back next year as coordinator.