It's the season of giving and SHARE's food bank is preparing Christmas food and toy hampers for about 1,800 individuals and families in the Tri-Cities. The problem, according to a press release, is there aren't any items in the food bank to fill them with.

To fill the hampers, 53,000 food item donations are needed (which is equivalent to 45,000 pounds of food). SHARE is asking residents to help in the following ways:

. By donating directly to SHARE's food bank at 2615 Clarke St. in Port Moody (at the back of the building).

. By donating at any grocery store in the Tri-Cities.

. By making a financial donation (call 604540-9161 or visit www.sharesociety.ca for details).

Items most needed for Christmas food hampers are: cereal, pancake mix and syrup, one-litre containers of juice, peanut butter and jam, canned ham, canned vegetables, canned tomatoes, rice, pasta and tomato sauce, stuffing mix, dry noodle and rice mixes, canned meat and fish, canned meals (stews and ravioli), condiments, canned fruit, pudding, chocolate, granola bars, cookies, nuts (peanuts, almonds, etc.), tea, coffee and hot chocolate.

The toys most urgently needed are those for teen boys and girls.

To view SHARE's toy shop wish list, visit www.sharesociety.ca, then click on "Food Bank" under "Programs & Groups" then ". donating a toy or food" in the blue box on the left-hand side of the page. Finally, click on "Holiday Toy Shop Wish List."