TINY CHRISTMAS BASKET PROJECT OF YESTERYEAR MORPHS INTO A TWO-CLUB EXTRAVAGANZA OF COMMUNITY GIVING. 100 FAMILIES WILL BENEFIT.

For many years a few Rotarians from a small club in bucolic Rocklin fanned out to ask merchants for donations to put together a few “baskets” of food for the needy families in the area. Around this time of year the Rotarians and their families gathered to prepare a few boxes of food items and a few days later some club members dropped the “packages” off at the homes of the families. Usually around 25 of the parcels were delivered. Many members were never sure how great the need was or how the families were identified to receive the baskets.

Gathering in a chilly garage in mid-December, the “baskets” (boxes donated by the local UPS store) were all packed, holiday greetings enjoyed, a few nips of brandy were shared, and the Rotarians and their families were home in bed before long.

What a difference a decade and a sinking economy make! This year two clubs—the Rotary Club of Rocklin/Loomis Basin and the South Placer Rotary Club—will combine to put together 100 holiday “parcels” that will include a wide range of food items, clothing, coats, gifts and toys.

The food items will include freshly baked bread, home-made jam, and natural foods. Among the “staples” and “holiday foods” will be: a canned ham, beans, coffee, peanut butter, sugar, flour, cheese, crackers and candy.

In 2005 the Rotary Club of South Placer, under the leadership of Rocklin Fire Chief Bill Mikesell, joined with the Rocklin/Loomis Basin club to add toys to the “baskets.” The two clubs also began to affiliate with local schools to identify the families who needed the help at the holidays.

This year the program has blossomed by adding a host of new kinds of gifts and with community partnerships as well as individual contributions of Rotarians and citizens. Rocklin-area dry cleaners are cleaning the coats and clothing donated in part through the “Coats for Kids” program in association with Channel 10. Toys, clothing, and extras are coming from The Dollar Tree, Sportsman’s Warehouse, United Natural Foods, Jansport, Safeway, Bel Air markets, and Denio’s.

A chef/baker, a friend of Rotarian Jeanette Anderson, who is in charge of the whole project for Rocklin/Loomis Basin, will make bread for the 100 baskets. Individual Rotarians and their spouses will take the dough home, bake the bread, and deliver it to be placed in the baskets. Rotarians and spouses will gather to make jelly to include with the bread. Rocklin and Loomis schools will identify the families that need assistance, based on their individual knowledge and on Federal income statistics available to schools.

Rocklin Fire Department personnel will compile a list of the children’s sizes and portion out the warm coats, boots, sweaters, caps, and socks. The fire fighters will also get information to match kids with favorite colors, favorite animated characters, and gift-toy preferences.

“I’ve never seen the spirit of Rotary and the spirit of giving more in evidence in our community,” said South Placer Rotarian and Fire Chief Bill Mikesell. “It will definitely take some of the sting out of these tough times in our service area.” President Ed Krumwiede of the Rocklin/Loomis Basin Rotary Club was especially pleased to see newer Rotary members like Anderson step forward. “We used to think it took years to grow the spirit of service in newer members,” he said, “but our new members from Rocklin and Loomis have stepped up as the need this year has increased in this and other areas such as service to schools. We’re very proud of their contributions and spirit.”

One visitor to the latest meeting of the Rocklin/Loomis Basin club was Conrad Spadero, a Rocklin resident and volunteer at the Rocklin Police Department. He heard about the Rotary Christmas basket effort and showed up with a big bag full of toys and gadgets to add to the baskets. Other Individuals are welcome to contribute to help the program by contacting The Rocklin Fire Department, Attn: Bill Mikesell. Phone: (916) 625-5300.

The Christmas “baskets” and other Rotary projects such as dictionaries for third graders and mini-grants for teachers are supported in part by the Rotary Club “Feast for Rotary,” a crab feed held at the Sunset Center, this year on February 28. Information and tickets to support the event can be ordered at the club “crabfeed website” at www.rocklinrotary.org.

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For more information:

Larry Kavanaugh

larrykav@ssctv.net

(916) 632-1978