The 12th annual Holiday Food Pantry Drive is underway once again. To kick-off, Bank of Brookhaven and The Daily Leader each donated $200.

The money raised will be distributed between St. Francis of Assisi/St. Vincent de Paul, Union Hall Baptist Church, St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church and the Greater Hope Foundation.

Last year over 50 individuals donated more than $9,000.

“We are happy to work with The Daily Leader again this year. This drive has become an important part of each of these pantry’s day-to-day activities,” Bank of Brookhaven President Shannon Aker said. “At this time of the year it is so important for all of us to be thankful and pull in the same direction. Brookhaven has always been good at that.”

Donations will be accepted at both The Daily Leader and Bank of Brookhaven through Dec. 16. Checks can be made out to Holiday Food Pantry. Donors have the option of donating in honor or memory of someone, anonymously, as a business or as an individual.

The Daily Leader donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 551, Brookhaven, MS 39602. Donations will be accepted at the newspaper office front desk as well. Donations to the Holiday Food Pantry will be listed in The Daily Leader as they come in.

Contributions to the Holiday Food Pantry also can be mailed to the bank, given to bank cashiers or donated through the drive-through windows.