July is nearing an end and that means that the Good Samaritan Ministries’ Christmas in July fundraiser is wrapping up.

“We have already raised $5,615 for Christmas food,” said Misty Bowers, Communications Director at Good Samaritan Ministries. “That’s 38 percent of our total goal, and we are so pleased with the response we’ve received from the community.”

However, Bowers said they anticipate moving closer to their goal before the end of the month.

“Our original goal was $15,000 and the closer we get to that goal now, the less we will have to raise in October when we begin ordering the Christmas food,” Bowers said.

Throughout the month of December GSM distributes Christmas boxes filled with most of the ingredients needed to prepare a traditional Christmas dinner. The money from this Christmas in July Fundraiser will be used to purchase food that cannot be raised during the community-wide Hunger Awareness Month Food Drive in October.

“Last year we held a huge food drive in October for Hunger Awareness Month to collect food items for our Christmas boxes and it was an incredible success,” Bowers said. “We are excited to do that again, but there are just some food items we cannot ask people to collect.”

Some of those items include roasting hens, eggs, flour and sugar. And purchasing enough of those to pack 1,200 Christmas food boxes takes money.

“It’s not too late to be a part of our Christmas in July Fundraiser,” Bowers said. “Of course, the actual fundraiser continues until the end of July but we will accept donations designated for Christmas in July now until the holiday season.”

For more information, please call 325-643-2273 or visit the website at www.goodsambwd.org.