Roberta Steinle is accustomed to having people wait until the last moment to file an application to receive a holiday food basket, but that doesn’t mean they are any less needy.

As of Wednesday morning, Steinle, project coordinator for the city’s Human Service Department, had received fewer than 20 applications for food baskets or a voucher to buy food, although the deadline for the Neighbors Helping Neighbors program is Monday, Nov. 4.

Drawing upon past experience she said, “They all come in at once.”

When all is said and done, Steinle anticipates the program that is supported with food and monetary donations will provide baskets and vouchers for 1,100 families and individuals at Thanksgiving and again at Christmas.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors was initiated about 25 years ago as a means of coordinating community efforts to help those in need during the holiday season and avoid the situation where some families and individuals end up receiving multiple food baskets while others get none. The city assumed the role of the clearinghouse for the donations while non-profits and individuals looking to assist provide the baskets and the funding. City workers have also played a big role with funds collected for “dress down days” amounting to about $140 a week flowing to the program.

Steinle doesn’t see this year’s donors as being any less generous than they have been in the past. She has commitments from five churches – St. Gregory the Great, St. Kevin/St. Benedict, St. Peter, St. Rita and Sts. Rose & Clement – to make up 315 Thanksgiving baskets. The Rotary Club of Warwick plus St. Kevin/St. Benedict, St. Peter and St. Rose & Clement are coming up with another 195 baskets for Christmas.

On the monetary side, Roberta traditionally depends on the prior year’s donations to fund the purchase of vouchers for the current year. The program has about $14,000 for the purchase of vouchers.

Steinle won’t have a fix on the numbers needing help until after the deadline. Nonetheless, she doesn’t believe it will be dramatically different than prior years.

She casts a wide net to ensure those in need of help get it.

In early October she sent letters to all Warwick school principals asking their help in identifying families. Letters also went out to 25 non-profit organizations to likewise get applications to those in need.

The mayor also assists in the effort.

Mayor Joseph Solomon sent out letters to individuals, churches, corporations and non-profits that helped in the past, thanking them for their support and requesting they help again.

Steinle doesn’t make a point of verifying the incomes of those seeking assistance. She believes many recipients are living on $1,800 a month or even half that.

“We have never turned anyone away,” she said.

Steinle will also be looking to make applicants aware of the Community Thanksgiving Dinner initiated by Peter Thomas at Bishop Hendricken High School. The free dinner program, which includes live music starts at noon Thanksgiving Day at the school and runs to 2 p.m. Winter gloves and hats donated by Ocean State Job Lot will also be made available to guests.

There are no residency or income requirements of guests, but they are asked to call Thomas at 889-5424 or email him at pthomas@hendricken.com to make reservations.

Steinle also said groups or individuals seeking to “adopt” a family for the holidays can call her for a family contact and names. Her number is 468-4101.

The Warwick Beacon is a partner in both Neighbors Helping Neighbors and the Hendricken program. Donations to Neighbors Helping Neighbors can be mailed or delivered to the Beacon at 1944 Warwick Ave., Warwick, RI 02889. Checks should be made out to Neighbors Helping Neighbors. Unless otherwise specified, the names of donors will appear in the paper starting next week.