POINT PLEASANT — The holiday season has officially arrived in Point Pleasant.

However, due to the economy and other situations many families will have a difficult time having a Christmas this year. Members of the Point Pleasant Fire Department will try to help those in need experience a Christmas with their annual food basket deliveries.

According to Fire Department Chief Jeremy Bryant, the fire department has done the food basket drive for more than 50 years. He described the food basket program as a community effort.

“We do the program, but it is more of a community involvement type thing. Everyone gives,” Bryant said, adding that several schools, churches and civic groups have given to the cause.

Sign-ups to receive food baskets are currently taking place at Ty Somerville’s State Farm Insurance Office in Point Pleasant.

“For the last few years we have teamed up with Ty’s office for food basket sign-ups,” Bryant said. “A lot of people don’t have a lot of extra money and this gives them the chance to enjoy Christmas and to not be as stressed out this holiday season.”

Somerville agreed that the food basket program is vital to the community.

“There are probably some families out there that will not be able to afford a Christmas. (The food baskets) will allow them to have a family meal and will make things easier,” he said.

According to Bryant, the fire department will take donations of food items until Friday, Dec. 18 and will accept monetary donations to go toward the food baskets at anytime. Sign-ups for food baskets will take place the rest of this week at Somerville’s office. Food baskets will contain various items including ham, bread, milk and flour.

For more information on the food baskets, call Somerville’s office at 304-675-4030, the fire department at 304-675-2313 or Bryant at 304-675-0256.