Most stores start preparing for the holiday season months ahead of time. Halloween decor has been out since the end of summer, with turkeys decorating the shelves along with the pumpkins now. The Maple Valley Food Bank is no different, they are starting to prepared for the holidays now as well.

Starting Nov. 1, the food bank will start offering holiday food, along with their regular offerings, Lila Merz, executive director of the Maple Valley Food Bank, said.

“I start preparing now to make sure every household that needs holiday foods, will get them,” Merz said.

Little by little, she starts bringing in holiday foods. While out shopping for the normal items, she brings in a few holiday food fixings to get a head start.

It’s not just food that the food bank has to start getting ready. Toys are also welcome for the gift program. There are programs for kids ages 0-15 in December, and $25 gift cards to various stores are offered for kids ages 13-15 and toys and other items are for the younger kids, Merz said.

Between Nov. 1 and Dec. 15 is the time frame of when toys and gifts start to be donated, but they are always welcome, Merz said.

Last year, around 1,090 kids received toys as part of the gift program. Every family that is part of the service area and needs assistance, qualifies for the toys. The only restrictions to the program is the families don’t participate in other gift programs and they have to be part of the service area. The gift program provided at least three gifts per family last year, and they hope to be able to help as many families in need as possible.

“It’s fantastic being able to provide gifts for families that otherwise might not be able to receive any,” Merz said.

Suggestions of food items and toys are available on the food bank’s website and will be available in some stores as Nov. 1 approaches.