The number of West Shore families in need tripled this holiday season, as the West Shore Food Bank and its friends provided gifts to more than 240 families.

"Thank the whole community," director Leslie Knuth said. "We couldn't do this without them standing behind us."

In comparison, the community provided gifts to just 80 families last year through the food bank's Toys for Kids program, which has gone on for nearly a decade.

Several local groups helped the food bank tackle the increased need this year. The Tamarack Angels provided gifts for 80 families.

Santa's helpers from The Docks adopted 30 families. This is the first year they joined. Glacier Bank, with its tree, also adopted 30 families.

The food bank itself provided the gifts for another 100 families, as well as gave out more than 150 Christmas food baskets.

This reflects the increased demands on the food bank, which has seen needs jump by more than 40 percent, Knuth said.

Part of the increase was due to working with area schools this year to identify those in need and get the message out about the program.

"We are absolutely getting slammed," Knuth said.

The challenge will now be keeping up with this demand outside of the holiday season, when donations tend to slump.

"Yes, Christmas and the holiday are over, but we still have needs for food," Knuth said.

The food bank is open for distributions the first, third and fifth Mondays of the month from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and the second and fourth Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Knuth is also a cell phone call away for emergencies.

Donations can be mailed in to PO Box 192 in Lakeside or dropped off at the food bank, located on U.S. Highway 93 South in Lakeside.

For more information about the food bank, call Knuth at 261-4560.