LOUISVILLE, Ky. — With a goal of making the season brighter for the Oldham County community, the Christmas Food Baskets program returned for the 78th year. 

The program originally started in 1945 with just one box of food. Bobbie Stoess, chair of the South Oldham Inner Church Council, said this tradition was close to her late husband's heart and is now a perfect way to honor him, renaming it the Barry Stoess Memorial Christmas Food Basket Program.

“I really like doing it; we like helping in the community," Stoess said. "My husband loved the community. He always wanted to give back.” 

Volunteers gathered at Crestwood United Methodist Church to pack up more than a thousand boxes of food, helping feed 355 families. They will receive four boxes full of a variety of food to stock the pantry for Christmas break.

Volunteer Sabrina Caruso said she is excited about doing her part and helping the community.

“I feel like I'm doing something in the world and in the youth group; we always find a way to impact somebody," Caruso said. "It makes me feel really good to help other people and know that they don't have to ask for it.” 

Caruso added the biggest lesson she has learned from the program is avoiding greed. 

“I hope people take that doing one kind thing can make someone's world change completely," Caruso said. 

Stoess said she hopes the Christmas Food Basket Program will continue to help more families each year. 

“I hope they realize that they are loved,” Stoess said, “that their community supports them and that we’re here to be, in my opinion, the hands and feet of Jesus … it helps us givers, and it helps the receivers.”