The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3016 and the Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars love to give back during the holidays.

On Friday, they transported five large boxes stacked with donated food to the Dialysis Center in Selma.

The patients’ faces lit up when they saw the boxes arrive.

“They’re happy,” said Darlene Farley, receptionist at the Dialysis Center. “I wish I could give them all a box, but we appreciate what they get.”

Patsy Stone, who is a member of the Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said they have been collecting food for about two months, trying to get whatever they can to help feed those who are unable to buy some necessary food items during the holidays.

“Hopefully, it will feed some people that cannot afford to buy some of the items that we’ve supplied, and that they’ll have a happy holiday season,” Stone said.

About nine people, including Stone, volunteered their time as they helped transport and load and unload the boxes into the Dialysis Center.

Stone said she is looking forward to doing more drives throughout the holiday season.

She said the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Auxiliary are planning a blanket and coat drive with First Baptist Church soon to give to the homeless who may need warmth through the cold weather.

The food drive was the first event Stone had planned for the holiday season.

“We felt like this was a good place to start and they are very appreciative of it,” Stone said.

Farley has been working at the Dialysis Center for past years when the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3016 and the Auxiliary has donated to her patients.

She said it never ceases to bring her joy seeing the happiness on the faces of the people she works around each day,.

“Some of us don’t have as much as others do and it’s just a wonderful thing to help,” Farley said.