Think stuffing a turkey this holiday season is a task? Try stuffing 14 vans full of food every morning by 10:30 a.m.

That's what Meals on Wheels staff and volunteers face daily to feed more than 1900 people in need.

Meals on Wheels of Northwest Indiana recently kicked off its holiday fundraising campaign to raise $40,000 that helps feed homebound elderly, ill and disabled clients throughout the year, according to a news release.

Since moving into its new facility last year, Meals on Wheels has increased meal production by 58 percent. When calculating how much food Meals on Wheels now prepares in a year's time, staffers had no idea it would total more than 200 tons.

Delivering 9,760 meals weekly to the homebound and others in need, Meals on Wheels has quite a lengthy shopping list. A typical weekly grocery list is as follows:

1699 pounds of meat

2,265 pounds of vegetables

2,265 pounds of fruit

2,265 pounds of potatoes and rice

598 loaves of bread

8,360 cartons of milk

By making a donation to the Meals on Wheels holiday campaign, donors can appreciate their contributions are directly benefiting residents in Northwest Indiana and helping the agency to feed people all year long.

To help stuff the agency's vans, send a financial donation to Meals on Wheels, 8446 Virginia St., Merrillville, IN 46410. Other items on the agency's holiday wish list include two new desktop computers and lots of volunteers.

For more information, call 219-756-FOOD (3663).