A promise with God

OTHELLO — It all started with a child's promise.

“I had a promise to God when I was 8 years old,” said Merritt Johnson, 67, as he sat behind a desk, stacks of index cards clipped together in front of him.

“A church helped us out, and I said if I have any time in my life that I can help somebody out, we'll do that.”

And he has. For the last 44 years.

Johnson is the driving force behind the Othello Community Christmas Baskets, which this year were set to deliver holiday cheer from the Adams County Fire District No. 5 station in the form of Christmas dinner fixings and supplies to over 380 needy families in the Othello area.

It began a lot more humbly, Johnson said, when he and five other people got together, pitched in $20 each, to help three families.

Saturday morning found dozens of people filling boxes, bags and carts with flour, sugar, canned goods, bags of potatoes and onions, frozen turkeys and ham, toys, blankets and even a stuffed animal or two for kids, creating “baskets” that were then packed into the backs of waiting cars and pickup trucks.

Holiday cheer ready for delivery to 386 families.

“This morning has gone pretty good,” Johnson said. “We'll try to make them all by noon.”

Those who aren't home will get a reminder left dangling from their front door handle so they can come in and get their baskets, Johnson said. Families are referred to basket program organizers, Johnson said.

For the volunteers, it's one more way to serve others, to be more than just an isolated consumer in a tough and often times cruel world. To do something to help other people.

“I've done this every year since I can remember,” said Johnson's 21-year-old niece Mikaela. “I'm more fortunate than most, so doing this helps me give back to the community and it's a real eye opening if you deliver.”

“It really is,” she added.

“I'm just here to help out,” said this year's Miss Moses Lake Roundup Mykiah Hollenbeck, taking some time off from her duties as rodeo queen, as she puts a fuzzy blanket in a “basket.”

“I just came to help,” echoed Othello High School student Maria Romero.

“Front door!” shouts a senior volunteer, letting people know a car is packed and should be sent on its way.

The cars in the loading line all advance, and the packing continues.

“It's fun, it's hard work, and we don't everybody that we should,” Johnson said.

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached at cfeatherstone@columbiabasinherald.com