Since 1930, the holiday season for families in need in Burleigh County has been a little more cheery thanks to the efforts of the American Legion Lloyd Spetz Post No. 1.

This year - and hopefully for many more to come - it will be the same as the Legion's Open Your Heart campaign gets under way.

Bob Wefald has chaired the campaign that brings food baskets and kids' clothing to area families for the past five years.

He said this year, the goal is to raise about $60,000 during the holiday season.

Each year, Legion members and other volunteers join forces to collect, sort and distribute food and clothing items.

Wefald said last year, about 230 area families were the beneficiaries of the generosity of those who supported the campaign.

This year, Wefald said there are more families who will benefit - about 280.

Wefald said to his knowledge, it's the longest-running American Legion charity event in the country.

And they get a lot of help along the way," he said.

"The reason it works so well is no one has to do it all," he said.

The campaign will get into gear Dec. 1 when local schools begin collecting non-perishable food items for Open Your Heart.

Dec. 19, a group of volunteers from the U.S. Army Reserves will collect the food from the schools and drop them off at the Civic Center Exhibition Hall.

Wefald says the Civic Center and its staff are just one example of the many different groups that come together to pitch in this time of the year.

"Those people are just terrific," he said.

But even before a single canned good is collected, a committee of various public and private social service agencies determine where the priorities lie for a given season.

On Dec 22, an army of volunteers will converge on the Civic Center to sort, label, bag and pack nearly 300 food baskets that will be distributed this year.

In the past, Wefald said there has been no real list of volunteers - they just seem to materialize year in and year out.

He said for years, there was a woman in a wheelchair who came to pack coffee.

After she died, Wefald said her granddaughter took over that duty.

"Over the years, it's touched a lot of lives," he said.

On Dec. 23, the baskets are loaded into vehicles and delivered to their destinations.

Wefald said as well as food items, the Open Your Heart campaign also needs cash donations that will go toward helping purchase clothing for kids.

Those wishing to help in that way can offer donations through the post, or go to the Kirkwood Mall outside of Herberger's Dec. 6 when KFYR Radio does a live 12-hour broadcast.

People can drop off food items, cash or checks there.

Families will then be given gift cards to use at Target or the south Wal-Mart to buy clothes.

"You can't over-emphasize how much new clothes mean to kids," Wefald said.

In the event there are holiday leftovers, Wefald said they are given to the Salvation Army who distributes them where they are most needed.

In addition, he said about $500 each year is earmarked for veterans at the Veterans Home in Ellendale.

And, Wefald said despite the many people who come out to help others during the campaign, the Legion is always looking for younger vets to join the effort.

So, just how many people are involved? Wefald says it's hard to say for sure.

School and church groups, Scout groups, Legion members … and just everyday people.

It's all about people helping people - especially at Christmas.

"If everyone does a little bit, it will have a big impact," Wefald said.

(Reach reporter Brian Gehring 250-8254 or brian.gehring@;bismarcktribune.com.)