BUCHANAN — The mist of Kathy Slucas’ cold breath hit the wintry night air of Dec. 10 every few seconds as she lifted and adjusted box after box, each filled with turkeys, apples or an assemblage of foodstuffs.

Around her, the breaths of Scout Troop 541 members, troop leaders and parents could be seen, too. Slucas stacked the boxes, and the scouts and company moved them to parked vehicles. Then, they took off into the night on a Santa-like delivery run two weeks from Christmas Eve, cars and trucks acting as miniature sleighs.

Troop 541 continued a decades-long tradition of delivering Christmas food baskets that Redbud Area Ministries volunteers, such as Slucas, prepared. Baskets were sent to area families in the Buchanan area from the ministries’ garage, 708 Red Bud Trail N., Buchanan.

As troop members arrived, snow fell. It was a fitting scene, said Jan Nowak-Walters, Redbud Area Ministries executive director.

Before the night’s deliveries began, volunteers organized and packed the foods, many donated by local groups, such as apples from David Pagel Produce.

Then, volunteers prepped the packages for delivery in the ministry’s garage space, creating what Nowak-Walters called a “sea of cardboard.” They sat on new tables and shelves donated by Buchanan Scarecrow Charities.

Once scouts and their families arrived, Scout leader Bill Blumka, of Buchanan, scanned through the list of families requesting food baskets, devising best routes for drivers.

Then, food boxes were packed into vehicles, sometimes to the brim, by flatbeds recently purchased with donations made in memory of a former volunteer.

“Delivering to these houses, we get to meet various people, and they’re all nice and kind,” said Brendan Coger, a First Class member of Troop 541.

Coger has participated in the delivery each year, and he said he has enjoyed the event each time.

He hopes other Buchanan area children think about joining the troop. Not only are a plethora of service projects rewarding, so are the number of camping activities available. This winter, the troop will go caving down south.

Scout or not, Kathy DeMaio recommended that people volunteer with Redbud Area Ministries. She has been with the nonprofit, which houses a food and clothing pantry, for about a year. Tuesday evening was her first time volunteering for the annual Scout-Redbud partnership.

“They’re a wonderful herd of people to work with, Nowak-Walters said, referring to that night’s volunteers. “They want to give back to the public. To be honest, we survive on that benevolence.”

Another big burst of benevolence will occur Saturday, Dec. 14. Nowak-Walters and her crew of volunteers, many dressed as Christmas elves, will create a miniature holiday store, sans the price tags.

Registered parents and guardians can stop by the ministries to pick out gifts for their children, newborn to 18. The gifts range from board games to books to clothing to toys.

Nowak-Walters said the event is unique for two reasons. First, it gives families’ household heads dignity by being able to choose and prepare their gifts as they see fit. Second, it includes older teenagers, who are sometimes left out of other gift drives.

The ministries director said she is excited for the “joyous bedlam” the event brings, but in the meantime, she and volunteers have food, clothing and happiness to give to people.