"Giving should come from the heart and be a continuous process throughout the year," Lovett added. "Therefore, we will continue to give to those in our community who may need some help, not only on holidays, but all through the year."

This can and toy drive follows the previous food drive before Thanksgiving that was donated to the Food Bank of South Jersey. This time it was kept closer to home in Gloucester Township, according to officials.

The First Baptist Church of Blackwood, under Pastor McMurray and the Living Word Bible Fellowship, under Pastor William King, provide local families with access to their joint food panty.

Volunteers pack boxes for families on Thursday and then are picked up by the requesting families.

"There is a need in our own community and while we just received a nice thank you letter from the Food Bank of South Jersey, we wanted this toy and food drive to be kept local and in town," Chairman Ray Polidoro said.

"We have all been involved with youth sports or activity programs in the community or schools and this is one other way we can volunteer and help our neighbors," Fellow member and Planning Board Chairman Dennis Palmer added.

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