There won’t be any reindeer and Santa may be sweating a little more than he does during his wintertime ride, but he will be making an appearance at the second annual Christmas in July event.

Santa will be at the Mill Bay Centre July 25 to help local volunteers raise cash — and hopefully food and other supplies — for the valley’s needy.

Laurie Vasey, of the Mill Bay Community League, said the July 25 event will aid the CMS (Cobble Hill, Mill Bay and Shawnigan Lake) Food Bank Society.

“The food banks are finding this year to be particularly tough because of the recession and all,” she said.

“They’re finding their cupboards are particularly bare and they’re really looking forward to this event to help them get something back in the cupboards.”

Santa and one of his helpers will be at the centre from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

“We will be offering hot dogs and a drink for a donation,” said Vasey.

Members of the Kerry Park Islanders junior B hockey team will also be on hand to help with barbecue duty.

“Last year this was an important fundraiser for us and the community was extremely generous and we appreciated that so we’re hoping for a similar response,” said Vasey, who added the generosity lasted more than just a single day after last year’s event.

“It continued afterwards and we knew it was from the impact of the Christmas in July,” she said.

CMS provides food hampers for residents of Cobble Hill, Mill Bay, and Shawnigan Lake every Tuesday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The bank helps approximately 375 south end adults and children each and every month, said food bank volunteer Sheila McGregor, who noted that number shoots to about 600 at Christmastime.

“At Christmas people are thinking about the food bank, but when summer comes around our shelves are practically empty, like they are now,” she said.

Organizers of Christmas in July said they’re hoping to collect food and cash donations throughout the day.

The food bank also has a deep need of hygiene products, such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, and other items.

Added McGregor: “We have a lot of clients with babies and diapers are a big expense.”

The volunteer said the day wouldn’t happen without the support of the local grocery store.

“We couldn’t do it without Thrifty’s (food store in Mill Bay) because they are providing the food, the tents and the barbecue — we just have to show up.”

Christmas in July starts at 10 a.m. and is expected to wrap up about 4 p.m.