2011 Rotarians Partner with St. Nicholas Christmas Basket Program in Food Drive

In 2010 the St. Nicholas Christmas Basket Program helped make Christmas better for 136 families including 350 kids. This year, as in 2010, Okanogan-Omak Rotary Club played an important role in this food drive. Almost half the membership turned out on four cold afternoons and evenings in early December to solicit donations of food and cash at three local grocery stores: Gene's Harvest Foods, Caso's Country Foods and Wal-Mart.

The community's response was heartening in this difficult economy. Three 4'x4' pallets were stacked four or five boxes high with donated food. A convoy of Rotarians' pick-ups delivered the loaded pallets to the Mallott Improvement Club where 14 Rotarians and spouses unloaded and sorted the food. Shoppers also donated $360 in cash and $40 in meat gift certificates.

Club President Dave Womack commented, "I don’t think we as Rotarians realize how much we collect until we see it all together.  It is a heartwarming feeling to know we not only helped monetarily, but also hands on." In addition to staffing the food drive, Okanogan-Omak Rotary Club has donated $500 to the Christmas Basket Program.