By Gregory Childress

gchildress@heraldsun.com; 419-6645

CHAPEL HILL -- The Interfaith Council for Social Service is about $5,000 short on its quest to provide needy families with a Christmas meal.

The IFC hopes to raise enough money -- about $10,000 -- to feed 400 households for Christmas through its Holiday Meal coupon program.

Supporters can donate $25, which will feed one household a meal that consists of turkey or ham, vegetables, bread and a dessert.

For Thanksgiving, the IFC provided a meal for 414 holiday households, feeding 1,246 individuals.

"That's the highest number we've ever done," said Chris Moran, executive director of the IFC. "We're usually under 400 meals."

Moran said a local church has already donated $1,000 to help speed the IFC toward its goal for the Christmas meal.

"People really believe this a good thing to do, and it's something that's tangible," Moran said.

He said $20 or $25 gift cards for residents of the IFC's Community House and HomeStart would also be welcomed.

Moran noted that a weak economy is contributing to more households becoming eligible for the IFC's Food Pantry. He said the number of eligible households has jumped 47 percent to 2,612.

"What that demonstrates is a wider number of people being affected by the economy," Moran said.

In the fall of 2008, the IFC received more than $19,000 from donors to provide 761 holiday meals -- Christmas and Thanksgiving -- for 2,245 people.

Individuals or organizations wanting to help can visit the organization's Web site at ifcweb.org and print a coupon to send to the IFC along with a $25 check.

Mail checks and coupons to: John Dorward, Inter-Faith Council for Social Service at 110 W. Main St., Carrboro, NC 27510.

Payments by credit card can also be made by calling (919) 929-6380, ext. 14 for John or ext. 12 for Frances.