For the Revs. David Porter and Freddie Schiele, the Concordia Parish Christmas Charity Fund is a &uot;hands-on&uot; ministry.

&uot;You actually meet the people and you see them smile and they’re very thankful,&uot; Porter said.

The two preachers, who are co-chairmen of the charity’s committee, help prepare and distribute bags of food and toys for families in need in Concordia Parish.

Porter, who is the pastor of Ferriday Presbyterian Church, described the ministry as &uot;hands-on&uot; because of the interaction with the people and the chance to see children smile as they hear toys rattling in their gift bags.

&uot;That makes Christmas,&uot; he said

The Concordia Parish Christmas Charity Fund has been in existence for about 10 years.

It provides gifts and food to about 200 families each year based on need.

Each year, the charity raises about $12,000 in donations and Porter and Schiele would like to see that number grow.

&uot;I would love the see the day when we can actually provide two or three sacks of groceries to these families,&uot; Porter said.

And the charity uses all the funds collected to pay for the food and gifts, he added.

Schiele, the pastor of Mercy Seat Baptist Church, has been involved with the charity for about six years.

&uot;I just feel it’s a responsibility as a Christian and a minister to help people,&uot; he said of his involvement.

And many people who receive toys and food express appreciation, Schiele said.

For Schiele, that is one of the biggest joys about working with the charity.

&uot;It’s a joy to help people, and that’s really our job anyway — to help people,&uot; he said.

The program is possible because of donations and the many volunteers and businesses who participate, the ministers said.

And over the years, more groups have started to get involved, including Boy Scouts and the Ferriday Chamber of Commerce and law enforcement.

&uot;We’re trying to broaden the base a little bit,&uot; Porter said. &uot;The more volunteers, the better.&uot;

The ministers said officers help deliver the food to shut-ins and enjoy doing that type of work as a change from usual holiday calls.

And inmates from the sheriff’s office say they also enjoy helping.

Porter said he remembers one year in which two inmates grinned from ear to ear throughout the gift distribution.

Later, Porter said, one of the inmates told him that he had more fun on that day than during all the time he had spent in prison.