BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The Bakersfield Police Department, in partnership with the Kern County Sheriff’s Office and High Desert Distributing, will be delivering 500 Christmas food baskets to families in need throughout Kern County on Wednesday.

This year's event will be the 36th annual event.

The Christmas food baskets consist of two large boxes of food including a turkey, potatoes, stuffing, vegetables, fruits, canned goods, bread, drinks, and other food items as donations allow. Families who receive a food basket are chosen from referrals made by deputies and officers from both law enforcement agencies. Deputies and officers also volunteer to deliver the baskets.

Volunteers will prepare the baskets this evening at High Desert Distributing, 5101 District Boulevard. The deliveries will begin promptly at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday. As opposed to prior years, staff members who are delivering will remain inside their vehicles, and volunteers will load their patrol cars for contactless deliveries.

For further information, please contact Bakersfield Police Department Community Relations Supervisor Carina Ortiz at (661) 326-3024 or at cortiz@bakersfieldpd.us