Food, like twinkling lights and carefully wrapped presents, is a major component of the holiday season.

At family meals across the area, dining room tables will be just about creaking under the weight of all kinds of good things to eat. But unfortunately, not everyone can afford even a modest holiday meal.

NEW Cooperative Inc. has stepped up again to help meet that need and ensure that more area residents will have a good meal this holiday season.

The staff of the Fort Dodge based cooperative handed out about 1,200 free hams Tuesday to people who received a coupon from Upper Des Moines Opportunity Inc. Another 800 hams will be given to 15 food pantries in the counties where NEW Cooperative facilities are located.

NEW Cooperative provides the hams, which are bought from Webster City Custom Meats.

This is the fourth year that the effort, called Hams for Hunger, has been conducted.

Chris Kellner, an employee of the cooperative, has volunteered to be part of the effort every year.

”We see people who are struggling,” he told The Messenger. ”It’s just nice to say merry Christmas.”

The crew at NEW Cooperative Inc. didn’t have to do this hunger-fighting effort, and yet they did. We thank them for their dedication to their neighbors who need some help.

We also thank the staff of Upper Des Moines Opportunity Inc. for their constant work to help those who are less fortunate.