ST. MARYS — Distribution for the 2023 Project Gifts for Elk County, an initiative that helps brighten the holiday season for hundreds of children and families each year, is set for today.

The project of more than 40 years is a community effort by the St. Marys Rotary Club and other local agencies. Club Secretary Vern Kreckel said Project Gifts typically provides presents for about 400 Elk County children and families in need each year.

Donors have been very generous, and there have been new donors that contributed this year, Kreckel said, in what she called a true community effort. There were 55 collection sites throughout Elk County, including the several hosted by Dagus Mines American Legion.

Walmart is also a big contributor to Project Gifts, she added.

Throughout the last week of November, Elk County Catholic and St. Marys Area high school students volunteer to help to sort and wrap presents at the Project Gifts facility on Depot Street. This is a great experience for the youth who help, said Kreckel.

Visit Project Gifts for Elk County on Facebook and www.stmarysparotary.org/