More than 100 families in the Clearwater-Clear Lake Area had a happier Thanksgiving this year thanks to the Clearwater/Clear Lake Food Shelf and community volunteers.
Monday, volunteers gathered at the food shelf in the Lions Pavilion building to begin filling baskets with food and household personal items to distribute to families in the area.
Food Shelf Coordinator Sherry Hanson said there were 107 baskets filled this year, compared to about 100 a year ago. About 40 volunteers contributed, either by transporting goods, filling baskets or distributing the baskets Monday evening.
Baskets contained food for families ranging from one to nine people. Some of the items included potatoes, stuffing, dried cranberries, cranberry juice, cranberry sauce, canned carrots, canned peas, candy, peanut butter and cupcake mix.
Each family also received a card to pick up a turkey at Coborn’s. When families arrived late Monday afternoon, they selected a basket for the proper family size, then went to the kitchen to pick up a dessert, margarine, milk, bread and eggs.
“It’s pretty much everything for a Thanksgiving meal,” said Hanson.
Contributors for the baskets included Second Harvest, Coborn’s in Clearwater, CashWise in St. Cloud, Nelson Brothers Restaurant and Bakery, Bill and Colleen Kiffmeyer for potatoes donated, the City of Clearwater for use of the extra space to put together and distribute the baskets, and monetary donations from the generous community, civic groups, dedicated volunteers and food shelf board members.
“To make all this come together, it involved everyone to take a little piece of the puzzle,” said Hanson. “By everyone’s contribution and time, things came together.
People either signed up in person at the food shelf to receive a basket or called to be put on the list. The same procedure will be followed for Christmas, when about the same number of families can be expected.
Christmas baskets will be distributed Dec. 21. The deadline to sign up for a basket is Dec. 9.
Santa and his elves will also be on hand that day to distribute gifts for kids up to age 17.
Food shelf hours are: Monday 5:30-7 p.m., Tuesday 9-11 a.m. and 6-8 p.m. and Wednesday 3-5 p.m. For more information, call 320-558-2954.
