Othello Christmas Basket project wraps up

OTHELLO — “They were all delivered, that’s what I love to hear,” said Merritt Johnson to a volunteer driver.

The driver had just returned from successfully delivering Christmas baskets to three families.

Johnson has been a part of the annual Othello Community Christmas Basket program since it first began more than 40 years ago. And this holiday season, he and his volunteers hope to deliver to about 320 local families in need.

Inside, the Adams County Fire Station is packed full of both volunteers, and food and toy donations. Like a well-oiled machine, all the volunteers work quickly in their assigned tasks.

Some are designated as “shoppers” and are given boxes to fill with canned food items and toys. Each box is assigned with a family’s name, address and number persons living in the home so that they may be filled to the specified needs of each family.

Once filled, the boxes are then packed into the vehicles of volunteer drivers who will be delivering to the families. Two vehicles are packed at a time, and when filled, the doors to the station are opened to usher them out and bring in two more.

“The community has come together,” Johnson said. “It’s so heartwarming.”

Idolina Martinez, who has been a volunteer with the program for over 26 years, said that each family is also provided with milk, ham, eggs, flour, sugar, oranges, potatoes and onions. The produce and dairy products provided are all donated by local food processors and farms, she added.

For Johnson and his wife Charlette, months of preparation go into gearing up for the program each year. Johnson explained that at the first of every year, he and Charlette go toy shopping to help stock up for the upcoming year. He said that there are even some stores that expect him each year, and order in extra toys knowing he will be there for them. He also said local business are helpful in donating items each year.

Johnson also explained that the names of families they deliver to are given on a referral basis, provided by schools, police departments and churches. Delivery of the baskets takes place for three days, usually beginning on the Saturday before Christmas. Families must be home to either accept or decline the basket for the delivery to be complete. Any items that are not delivered to families are donated to the local food bank.