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The Columbia Urban League is taking on hunger during the holidays with its annual Christmas Giving Program.  On Monday, more than 300 elderly Midlands residents will now have full stomachs on Christmas day thanks to the hundreds of baskets prepared for the event.  The Columbia Urban League says the tough economic times hit the seniors on fixed incomes especially hard.

"A lot of times, these seniors are having to make extremely hard choices like whether to eat or buy medicine," said President and CEO of the Columbia Urban League J.T. McLawhorn, Jr. He says today is an opportunity for today's youth to help the elderly and learn some valuable lessons in the process.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the number of senior citizens living alone who are seeking help from food pantries and other charitable venues has increased 81 percent to a little more than 400,000 in 2008.  Organizers say the issue is one of economics with the demand being high and the supply being at historic lows makes efforts like these, especially difficult this time of year.

"We are putting together 350 boxes today, but there is still a waiting list," said Beatrice McKnight.  She says each box has about three meals worth food and costs about $40 per package.  "Seniors have given so much and now it's time for them to receive," McKnight said. 

Volunteers gathered early Monday morning to get the packages ready for delivery.  An assembly line was created at Alcorn Middle School  to make the process as efficient as possible.  Those coming to lend a helping hand came from various backgrounds including members of the Columbia Fire Department, students along with members of several other organizations across the Midlands.