HAYWARD, Calif., You better stand straight. You better not slouch. You better lift with your legs while moving that couch. Spinal Claus is coming to Hayward.

On Wednesday, December 10, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Life Chiropractic College West Health Center will be holding its annual food drive for Hayward's Family Emergency Shelter Coalition (FESCO). For just one (or more) canned or dry-food donation, participants will get their photos taken with-the one, and probably the only-Spinal Claus. Participants of all ages are welcome to this special event. The holiday photos with the jolly, yet well-postured, one (with a chiropractic theme, of course) will make excellent gifts and keepsakes, while at the same time helping a wonderful cause.

"We really appreciate being the recipients of Spinal Claus food donations again," reports Nancy Schluntz, executive director of FESCO. It's a pretty important part of our Adopt-a-Family program. With the continued economic downturn, we have more people than ever asking for help this year-many of them have said they can do without gifts, if they could get one of the wonderful food boxes we're able to put together thanks to the donated food. Whatever Spinal Claus and the participants can generate toward that cause will be most welcome and very much appreciated!"

FESCO provides emergency shelter and extended supportive services to homeless families with children throughout Alameda County. The organization's shelter houses approximately 80 to 100 families throughout each year, including over 200 children. At any given time, there are 15 to 18 children in the FESCO Shelter. In addition, FESCO provides supportive services to about 200 at-risk, formerly homeless families with children who are working hard to sustain housing in the community. Life West has been a long time active supporter of FESCO.