Lutheran Family Service will hold its Christmas Festivities, Nativities, and Food Drive event for the seventh year from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at its ministry center, 230 Ninth Ave. N.

New this year will be live music from St. Paul and Good Shepherd Lutheran’s praise teams. In addition there will be a live nativity scene by local youth group members.

Visitors are encouraged to bring food donations for the food pantry at St. Paul Lutheran Church but a donation will not be required for entrance.

“We thought if we are going to do this as a witness to the neighborhood and community that we could incorporate something like a food drive along with it,” said Operations Manager Holly Eldridge.

Items most needed currently include canned fruits and vegetables, pasta, cereal, peanut butter, canned meat, and box potatoes. Only new, unopened and non-expired food will be accepted.

The event is held as an opportunity for the community to meet the Lutheran Family Service staff and for the staff to share their Christmas spirit with those who visit.

“Our intent is for it to be a Christian witness to the neighborhood and the community,” said Eldridge.

Lutheran Family Services started in 1901 as an orphanage and still serves the community today Eldrige said.

“Currently, we do mental health counseling, we do adoptions, and we do crisis pregnancy counseling,” she said.

While the event is being held at the ministry center located at 230 Ninth Ave. N., Lutheran Family Services’ office is located at 409 Kenyon Road. Suite C.