MARYSVILLE — The 25th annual Operation Marysville Community Christmas food and toy drive kicked off Nov. 7 at supermarkets, grocery stores and other locations throughout the community, as city employees and members of various volunteer organizations accepted donations and shared information about OMCC at Fred Meyer, Albertson’s, Haggen, IGA, the Grocery Outlet and Kmart.

City of Marysville Storm Water and Sewer Maintenance Division Lead Worker Paul Kinney was joined by his son Keyton in the entry lobby of Fred Meyer, where his shopping cart for donations, for Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday food baskets and toys to families in need, was already overflowing by midday.

“Last year, we received about 500 pounds, but this year, I suspect we’ll be well over that,” Kinney said. “I’m shocked, with the way the economy is, that people are still so willing to give, including monetary donations and gift cards. We’ve had a good turnout.”

Kinney was motivated to volunteer his time in part to set an example for his son.

“Getting him to volunteer his time was a big factor,” Kinney said. “Not everybody can spare money, but we all have time.”

Marysville Kiwanis member Mike Ferri was aided by Boy Scouts in his collection efforts at Albertson’s that day, which he believed held steady with the donations made last year.

“It’s unconscionable that people can go hungry with the wealth that we have in this country,” said Ferri, who encouraged locals to look for OMCC’s familiar red giving barrels at the entries and lobbies of more than 50 participating businesses, public buildings and places of worship throughout town.

OMCC operates through the Marysville Community Food Bank and provides for approximately 700 families and 1,600 children in the Marysville area during the holiday season. For more information about basket registration or how you can donate directly, call the Food Bank at 360-658-1054 or log onto marysvillecommunityfb.com.