Southeast Linn Community Center (SELCC) had a very busy holiday season in 2025.

This year, SELCC partnered with Together We Achieve and five other area organizations to streamline the holiday food box sign-up and distribution process throughout Linn County. The new partnership allowed SELCC to distribute November and December holiday meal boxes to more families in Mount Vernon, Lisbon, and the surrounding communities without duplicate sign-ups or long lines.

In November, SELCC volunteers packed 275 boxes full of Thanksgiving classics — from green beans and potatoes to turkey and gravy — to help provide neighbors with a hearty Thanksgiving meal. St. John the Baptist Catholic Church provided turkeys for the November boxes. Altogether, the partnership provided food boxes to 2,220 households in the Linn County area.

SELCC distributed December food boxes to more than 630 people in 220 different households. Overall, the collaboration with Together We Achieve and the Linn County Sheriff’s Office served over 800 area households. The United Methodist Church of Mount Vernon donated hams for the December food boxes.

SELCC’s Adopt-a-Family program provided gifts to 75 local families — more than 330 individuals — based on their wish lists. To make sure that every family received their requested items, SELCC worked with the Lisbon and Mount Vernon Community School Districts, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Seeds of Faith Lutheran Church, and the United Methodist Church of Mount Vernon, as well as many individual donors.

In addition, thanks to a generous donation from Toys for Tots, SELCC was able to hold a holiday “shopping experience” for local families. More than 55 parents and grandparents selected gifts from 11 tables full of free toys, stuffed animals, puzzles, and games, which brightened the holidays for 207 local children.

During the holidays and year round, Southeast Linn Community Center relies upon the generosity of volunteers and donors, individuals and businesses who support their programs. If you would like to learn more and get involved, visit www.selinn.org.