The Summit Colorado Interfaith Council plans to assist 1,500 families in the county with Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner this year, according to a news release.

The 10th annual Holiday Free From Hunger program distributes grocery gift cards to offset the costs of food over the holidays and supplement programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which serves around 700 families in Summit County.

Last year, the council’s program served 1,191 families, up from 600 in 2021, the release stated. Around 25 local partners, including several churches, the Summit School District, the Family & Intercultural Resource Center, Smart Bellies and the Summit County Department of Human Services, provide names of those in need to the council.

The council has reached 73% of its $75,000 fundraising goal as of Nov. 12. Donations can be made at SummitCoInterfaith.org/giving-page, and a donation of $50 feeds one family, according to the website.

A quote in the release from Cathy Gadomski, who leads the Holiday Free From Hunger program, stated the people it benefits are those who make Summit County work and need help around the holidays.

“They are our teachers, lift operators, caregivers, servers and others,” Gadomski’s quote read. “They are folks who, like all of us, deal with the ever-rising costs of living in our wonderful place.”