VIDALIA &045; Santa will be making a visit to needy families in Concordia Parish this Christmas with a little help from the Concordia Parish Christmas fund.

The fund, which is marking its 16th year, distributes toys, clothes and bags of groceries to over 200 needy families in Ferriday, Vidalia and Clayton each year at Christmas.

Families in need must submit an application stating family income information, received mostly through Concordia Parish schools and churches, to any branch of Concordia Bank, Delta Bank or Tensas State Bank.

The fund is conducted with the help of volunteers and by year-round donations by local residents and businesses.

Chairman Dorothy Parker said each family who qualifies would receive a bag of nonperishable food items from the Christmas fund.

Children 8 years old and younger will receive a toy. Children 9 to 12 years of age would receive a $20 gift certificate from Wal-Mart, according to Parker.

She said volunteers would be

hand stuffing the bags at the Ferriday High School cafeteria beginning at 8:30 a.m. Monday.

The bags, toys, and gift certificates will be distributed there from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday Parker said.

Parker said donations to the Christmas fund could be made to any branch of Concordia Bank, Delta Bank or Tensas State Bank.