Still time to help out Othello Christmas Baskets program

OTHELLO — Residents of Othello wishing to reach out to the less fortunate this Christmas season still have time to participate in the Othello Community Christmas Baskets program.

All you need to do is donate at your door when collection drive members come knocking or attend some of the coming events at which donations are asked.

The quilts pictured above were made by Othello’s Charlette Johnson for the benefit of the Baskets program. You can win them through a raffle or buy one outright.

The three quilts represent the Seattle Seahawks, the Washington State University Cougars and the Othello High School Huskies.

Raffle tickets are being sold at $3 each or two for $5. Any Othello Community Christmas Baskets member will have tickets available.

Othello Community Christmas Baskets members will conduct a toy drive at the Wal-Mart Store on Friday and Saturday Dec. 9-10, from 12-5 p.m.

The quilts may also be purchased for $250, Johnson said. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to the Othello Community Christmas Baskets program.

A really fun event will be an Othello School District Christmas Basket challenge on Wednesday, December 14, between teachers, administrators and the maintenance staff of all the schools.

Admission is a food donation for the Christmas baskets. In the past they have competed in basketball. This year they will compete in volleyball. A trophy is awarded, and Wahitis Elementary are the currant reining champions.

According to Johnson, Othello Community Christmas Baskets has started to compile names of families to be served. The delivery date will be Dec. 17.

Recipient families must be referred to Christmas Baskets by organizations such as schools, churches, medical clinics, the hospital, the Health department and the police and sheriff’s departments. All referrals are reviewed by the committee members to meet the needs of the community.

“If you know a family that should be served, speak with one of these agencies to have them referred,” Johnson said.

Othello Community Christmas Baskets members will be working at the fire hall during the day and some evenings to bag, beans, flour, sugar, apples, oranges and onions. Anyone available to help can contact Merritt Johnson at 488-2471 or Ken Johnson at 488-5088.

Food, blankets, and toys may be dropped off at the fire department anytime during the day. Those wishing to help deliver baskets may come to the fire hall the morning of Saturday, Dec. 17. The work will start at 8 a.m..