A Legacy of Compassion and Service

The Sam Sandos Christmas Basket Program began in 1978 in the kitchen of Sam and Ethel Sandos as a means to help out a few families who were down on their luck.

Sam and Ethel provided a basket of food and a Christmas tree for the holidays. A few years later, Sam and his good friend, Joe Lucero, saw a need in the community for families who couldn’t afford a holiday meal. They worked with the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Presentation Church to provide food baskets to needy families. Thus began “The District Three Christmas Basket Program.” Designed to “Serve those who would, otherwise, not be served.” The program has since grown and serves residents of Jefferson, Denver, Adams, and Arapahoe counties. The program builds and delivers food baskets complete with a turkey and all the trimmings for a holiday meal. This event occurs on the Saturday before Christmas.

We now serve over 2100 food baskets to families around the Denver area who can't afford a holiday meal