BELLE — The Heartland Regional Library System is continuing its holiday initiative aimed at supporting neighbors in need while offering a full slate of programs across its Belle, Vienna, Iberia, and Eldon branches.

This season, Heartland is introducing Heartland Meal Kits, a donation-driven project that replaces the traditional canned food collection with monetary contributions. Library staff use donated funds to purchase ingredients for complete meal kits, each including a recipe and all non-perishable items needed to prepare a simple nourishing meal.

Each kit costs about $10 to create. Donations can be made at any Heartland branch. The system will be collecting contributions through Dec. 10, and completed meal kits will be distributed to local food pantries.

Questions about the drive may be directed to Lysha Thompson at 573-422-9866 or lysha@heartland.lib.mo.us.

December events are planned across its branches. On Dec. 10, Eldon will host Tween Paper Beads at 3 p.m., followed by puzzle competitions in both Belle and Eldon at 5 p.m. The following day, Dec. 11, brings Iberia’s Puzzle Competition at 5 p.m. and Vienna’s Clean Energy 101 program at 6 p.m. Belle offers Adult Crafting on Dec. 16 at 2 p.m., while Vienna follows with its own Adult Crafting session on Dec. 17 at 10 a.m. On Dec. 18, Belle’s Adult Book Club meets at 5:30 p.m., and Iberia holds Adult Crafting at 6 p.m. Belle will host a Teen Hula Hoop Rag Rug activity on Dec. 22 at 2 p.m., then wraps up the pre-holiday week on Dec. 23 with Storytime at 10 a.m. and Tween Paper Beads at 2 p.m.

Events resume on Dec. 29 with Storytime in Eldon at 10 a.m., Teen Hula Hoop Rag Rug sessions in both Vienna and Eldon at 2 p.m., and Vienna’s Puzzle Competition at 5 p.m. The month concludes on Dec. 30 with Storytime in Vienna at 10 a.m. and Iberia at 1 p.m., followed by Vienna’s Tween Paper Beads at 2 p.m., Iberia’s Teen Hula Hoop Rag Rug at 3 p.m., and 6 p.m. marks the start of Vienna’s Adult Book Club meeting.