FORT BENNING, Ga., (Nov. 12, 2014) -- With Thanksgiving little more than two weeks away and Christmas just around the corner, not every Soldier and their Family is looking forward to a table loaded with a turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and all the other traditional holiday fixings. For some the financial resources simply aren't there this year and the cupboard is almost bare.

That's where Operation Helping Hand, led by the Fort Benning Garrison Chaplain's Office with a large amount of help from the Fort Benning Community Spouses Club, seeks to make a positive impact during this holiday season.

The post chaplain's office is working with units to provide food baskets and commissary gift certificates for Soldiers and their Families who are in need during Thanksgiving and Christmas, said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Jeff Dillard, Fort Benning deputy garrison chaplain for religious support.

The food baskets include a chicken and the traditional holiday side dishes and will be distributed at the Battle Buddy Resource Center Nov. 18-20.

Instead of creating one master list of Soldiers and Families who are eligible for holiday food baskets, Dillard said those decisions were left up to the individual units on post to decide which Soldiers and Families qualified.

"Some of the things they are looking at are the size of the Family, number of children, rank of the Soldier and any financial crises in the past year," he said.

While the majority of those in need will receive food baskets, Army Community Services is providing commissary gift certificates if there aren't enough food baskets for all those participating in the program, he said.

On Nov. 2, all of the chaplains on post took a designated offering to help with food baskets as well, he said.

In addition to providing financial assistance through the Benning Benevolence Fund, the Fort Benning Community Spouses Club has packages with all the side dishes for the food baskets available at the commissary for $10 each, he said.

Those wanting to give a financial donation to help with food baskets either for Thanksgiving or Christmas are encouraged to contact the FBCSC's Teresa Birmingham at Birminghammt@yahoo.com to do so and designate their donation to Operation Helping Hands.

Any organization wanting to do a food drive also is encouraged to do so and all donations should be dropped off at the Battle Buddy Resource Center, Building 488, 7200 Anderson Street.

For additional information, call the garrison chaplain's office at 706-545-2289 or Army Community Services at 706-545-4043.