Members of the Rotary Club of Picayune distributed Christmas food baskets Tuesday morning as part of its Christmas Basket Program.

Each year, citizens in need across the Picayune area receive a donation of canned goods and staple food items from the Rotary Club of Picayune as part of the program.

Students from Picayune Memorial High School donated the canned goods in each basket and the Rotary Club donated the staple food, Rotary Club of Picayune Co-Chairman Suzan Wilson said.

Tuesday morning, members of Picayune Memorial High School’s varsity and junior varsity cheerleaders and the varsity softball team helped put the food in boxes before they were picked up by those in need.

Wilson said the Christmas Basket Program is an annual effort that has taken place for over 75 years.

A couple of years ago, members of the Rotary Club delivered each Christmas basket individually but now they ask citizens to pick up their basket from a central location.

“Everyone who receives a Christmas basket is grateful and they’re excited to bring food items to their home for the holidays,” Wilson said. “This year we are donating 100 food baskets to citizens in need around the city of Picayune.”

According to rotary.org, Rotary members work together to promote peace, fight disease, grow local economies and support education.

“Our motto is service above self. We have been chartered since 1925 and we love helping citizens around our community,” Wilson said. “

We also want to thank the Picayune School District for allowing us to use their facility in order for us to distribute the Christmas baskets and help everyone enjoy a happy holiday season.”