Rainier Valley Slammers soccer teams are collecting food and gifts from the community to help needy families this holiday season.

The Rainier Valley Slammer Christmas Food and Gift Drive welcomes donations during a collection event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8 in the parking lot of Washington Elementary School, 20 East St. NE, Auburn.

The youth soccer teams are donating food, gifts and time to help 15 families in the Auburn School District, according to Valinda Horstman, event coordinator. Teams are working together with Communities in Schools of Auburn to help identify families in Auburn schools who need food and gifts this Christmas season.

“Autumn McCartan, site coordinator at Cascade Middle School for Communities in Schools of Auburn, has been a great resource for us.” Horstman said. “She and her team of coordinators are already in the schools and have a program in place to identify families who need help this holiday season with food and gifts.”

According to McCartan, the most requested items from the children’s wish lists are: arts and craft items; board games; DVDs; books; Lego’s; Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh cards; headphones; Barbie’s and other dolls; super hero action figures; remote control cars; trucks and helicopters; hair accessories (curling iron, flat iron, headbands, hair bows, clips); finger nail polish and accessories; snapback hats.

Food items needed: donations for turkey or ham; boxed potatoes; stuffing; cranberry sauce; sparkling cider; cream of mushroom soup; French’s onions; green beans; hot chocolate/hot cider mix; and dessert items.

For more information, contact Horstman at 253-232-4947.

Communities in Schools of Auburn, originally called the Auburn School Lunch Fund, was established in 1985 by caring community members. CIS Auburn surrounds students with a community of support empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.