Othello Christmas Basket project continues in pandemic
Shelves are stocked with donated food and toys, awaiting volunteers to fill the boxes assembled for the 2019 Othello Christmas Basket program. Even in the time of a pandemic the Christmas Basket program will continue; distribution is scheduled for Dec. 19.
Courtesy photo
OTHELLO — Even in a year of a pandemic, some traditions continue, as donations are being accepted for the Othello Christmas Baskets, a charitable project that involves most of the town and dates back to the mid-1970s.
“We are still going,” said Ken Johnson, one of the organizers and the second generation of his family involved in the project. “We knew it was going to be different coming into it.”
Christmas basket project volunteers collect cans, boxes and bags of non-perishable food, community members donate food and toys, other volunteers pack the baskets and still other volunteers deliver to families in the Othello area. Distributions for 2020 are scheduled for Dec. 19.
“We’ve had a lot of donations of canned food, but not near where we need,” Johnson said.
The coronavirus outbreak shut down schools and many of the canned food drives and other fundraisers. But Othello businesses, families and individuals have donated money, Johnson said, which has helped make up some of the gap. And, organizers have purchased about $12,000 in food, he said.
“I’ve had a lot of people donate toys in the last few days. Which is great,” Johnson said.
Toys that aren’t distributed in one year are kept until the next year. Any food left over is donated to the Othello Food Bank, Johnson added.
The committee also is taking donations of new coats and jackets, hats and gloves.
Family recipients are recommended by local churches and schools; the limit is one basket per family.
The baskets will be assembled beginning Dec. 14, Johnson said, but the process will be different in 2020. Assembly is done at the Adams County Fire District No. 5 station, and because a limited number of people are allowed in the building at any one time, volunteers are being asked to sign up for shifts. People can sign up through the Othello Community Christmas Basket Facebook page.
“That’s been working pretty good,” Johnson said.
Delivering the boxes will be different, too. Drivers will be asked to stay in the car and volunteers will bring the basket to the car, Johnson said.
Donations of food, toys and money can be dropped off at Johnson’s Glass, 20 S. Broadway Ave., Othello.