ROCKVILLE, MD - From The City of Rockville: Every year, Rockville gives from the heart for the holiday season, and this year is no different as the city launches its 2017 Holiday Drive. This year, the city is hoping to increase the number of monetary donations it receives to be able to buy healthy food options for needy families and individuals.

On Monday, Oct. 16, students from city schools joined the Mayor and Council to issue a proclamation announcing the start of the Holiday Drive for 2017. In 2016, Rockville received referrals seeking holiday assistance for over 1,300 children. With the rising costs of food and toys, the city needs even more help from donors and partners this year to meet the needs of the community in 2017 and beyond.

For more than four-and-a-half decades, Rockville has sponsored outreach that brings the community together each year to provide food baskets, gift certificates and toys to needy Rockville families throughout the Thanksgiving and December holidays. The 2016 Rockville Holiday Drive made the holidays special for hundreds of families in Rockville with generous contributions from more than 140 individuals, businesses, schools, churches and community organizations. These contributions, and the hard work of many volunteers, enabled the city to:

Distribute Thanksgiving food baskets and grocery store gift cards to 497 Rockville households.

Treat 105 Rockville seniors to a Thanksgiving dinner.

Provide 209 seniors and households without children a gift card to a local grocery store in December.

Operate the annual Toy Shop, providing over 1,000 toys and books to 518 children

Provide 225 teens with a gift card to a local retailer.

Match 68 Rockville families, or a total of 276 individuals, with sponsors who provided gifts tailored to each family's specific needs. Here are some ways you can make a difference in 2017: Send a tax-deductible contribution (checks can be made payable to Rockville Holiday Drive Fund, and sent to 111 Maryland Ave., Rockville, MD 20850.) Donations help Rockville buy healthy food options for individuals and families.

Organize a canned food drive (with a focus on healthier food like low-sodium beans and soups, no-sugar-added canned fruits and whole-wheat pasta).

Pack or deliver Thanksgiving food baskets.

Assist on-site with the toy distribution.

Organize a toy or book drive to collect new unwrapped toys or books (new books for children of all ages, including teenagers, are needed).

Donate $20 gift certificates for Giant or Target. The Holiday Drive relies entirely on monetary contributions, donated food and new toys from local individuals, schools, businesses and organizations.

You can donate food at City Hall and city recreation facilities until Thursday, Nov. 16 for the Thanksgiving holiday. Toys must be received by Thursday, Dec. 14.

Food, toys and gift cards distributed by the Holiday Drive are donated or purchased using donated funds. All donations of money and goods are tax deductible.