Planning a festive feast for Christmas Day? Maybe you’ll have an herb roasted turkey with clouds of mashed potatoes and rivers of gravy. Or possibly you’ll savor a meal of prime rib with Yorkshire pudding. Don’t forget the walnut-sausage-apple stuffing and pumpkin cheesecake mousse.

While many of us stock our pantries and fridges with special food items for the holiday dinner, Hopelink’s six food banks aren’t nearly as prepared.

“The shelves at our food banks are barer than last year,” said Denise Stephens, public relations specialist. “Donations are definitely down. I’ve talked to our Redmond, Northshore and Kirkland centers and all three report their stores of basic items are very low. Our Northshore center manager said she can’t remember any year since 1990 when the supplies of basic staples have been so low.”

Hopelink’s six food banks in north and east King County collectively serve over 15,000 individuals each year. Last year, 15,352 individuals received 2,606,849 pounds of food.

Asked to speculate the reason behind the slump in this year’s donations, Stephens replied, “It’s hard to put a finger on the precise reason, but our need is greater this year. We have more people coming in and taking advantage of our services as the nation’s poverty rate rises. Even though the economy is doing well, the nation’s poverty rate rose to 12.7 percent of the population last year. In King County alone, poverty rates increased in 2004 as wages failed to keep pace with living costs.”

Stephens believes people haven’t stopped their generosity, but have made different choices in their giving. “Basically, the natural disasters we’ve had this year helped raise people’s awareness of homelessness issues. People have been generously helping victims of Katrina and East Asia’s tsunami. They have been making choices that divert money from local needs.”

In addition to a decrease in individual donations, Hopelink has observed a decline in group giving as well. In past years, local organizations and school clubs have held food drives to boost Hopelink’s supply.

The majority of Hopelink’s clients are jobless or “working poor,” making just enough to get by with nothing left for extras or niceties. Without Hopelink’s help, many wouldn’t have the food or toys they need to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or other special observances. With this in mind, Hopelink asks the community to help them meet the need of their clients so these families can enjoy a happy holiday season.

Food items needed most include cooking oil, flour, sugar, baking items and mixes, cranberry sauce, olives pumpkins, yams and stuffing. Hopelink also seeks tuna or other canned meats, peanut butter, pasta, rice, cereal, soup, onions, potatoes and grocery store gift certificates. For the “Gift Room,” Hopelink asks for new and unwrapped gifts and suggests clothing in sizes ranging from newborn to 18 years; gift certificates to retail franchises; and gifts for teens such as portable CD players, jewelry and sports equipment.

Deliver your donations — now through Mon. Dec. 19 — to Hopelink’s center at Northshore located at 18220 – 96th Ave. N.E., Bothell. The center is open weekdays 8:30 am to 5 p.m. and Sat. Dec. 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For further information, call (425) 485-6521.

“Gift Room” volunteers are also needed to restock the shelves, assist shoppers and set up and take down the room. If interested, contact Jonnett Maurer at (425) 869-6066.