Club delivers holiday cheer
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Members of the Presque Isle Kiwanis Club made happy holiday memories for those less fortunate in the community again this year, through the organization’s annual Christmas basket and toy project.
Under the guidance of Co-Chairs John Graves and Sherri Wilcox, club members collected food and gifts that were then dispensed according to recipients’ needs. Baskets and wrapping of gifts usually takes place about a week before Christmas.
“There are many hours put in behind the scenes getting this project ready. It starts with parents coming on Wednesday and Thursday nights to pick out toys and wrapping paper for their children. On Friday, the bags are labeled with the names of the families receiving food baskets,” explained Club Secretary Susan Watson.
Photo courtesy of Susan Watson
PREPARING FOOD BASKETS — Members of the Presque Isle Kiwanis Club took part in a Christmas project, preparing food baskets for less fortunate families in the community. Members pictured at the table, clockwise, from left: Keith Madore, Susan Watson, Shawn Cunningham and A.J. Cloukey.
Members spend Saturday morning putting together the food baskets.
“On Saturday around 5:30 a.m. a few of the club members show up at the Presque Isle Rec Center to unload the food and potatoes. Around 8 a.m., other club members — some with family and friends — show up to pack the bags. Each family gets a bag of potatoes, turkey or a money voucher to buy their own, peas, corn, butter, cranberry sauce, fruit cocktail, sugar, jelly, peanut butter, crackers, candy and bread,” said Watson, noting, “these are either picked up or delivered.”
Watson said this year’s Christmas Basket Project served 537 adults and children.
