Back in 1982, Operation St. Nick made sure one family with four children enjoyed a special Christmas with all the gifts for which they wished.

This year, in marking its 30th anniversary of assisting families who have fallen on hard times, Operation St. Nick helped 77 families with 171 children share Christmas with each other in a special family environment in their own homes.

Each family received between $200 and $500 in food, depending on the size of the family, to enjoy over the holiday season. In fact, approximately $28,000 was spent on food alone this year.