Lions Club delivers Christmas baskets

After stopping at Castles bright and early on Saturday, three trucks headed out into the different areas of Mineral County carrying food baskets and toys for families in need. One went east and one went west while a third stayed in the Superior area. Santa Claus also rode along to deliver presents to the children.

Roger Kesting, from the Lions Club, said that they prepared nearly 80 baskets and even accepted a late application. Prior to heading out on Saturday, volunteers loaded the trucks with the boxes.

Doug Cummings said that he remembers something similar to the food baskets as far back as 1964. He said that back at that time a group got together to deliver presents to the kids in the area.

“It was around Christmas and they delivered presents to the kids and they used a sleigh,” Cummings said. “It was about 1966, I think, I’m not positive, that the Lions Club took it over.”

Kesting has been helping the Lions Cub distribute food baskets since he came to the area in 1981. Back then, no more than 15 baskets were distributed to needy families in the areas. As the numbers started to grow, the Women and Timber also became a part of the effort to put together and deliver food baskets to needy families.

A couple years ago, the two groups delivered around 110 baskets. Last year, close to 80 baskets were handed out to families living throughout Mineral County.

“We’re really fortunate that Women and Timber teamed up with us,” Kesting said. “It’s a lot different when you’re doing more than 30 boxes opposed to ten.”

Kesting said that baskets are delivered to those who apply and meet criteria for the baskets. He said that ninety percent of the houses they go to when they are delivering the baskets don’t have anything.

“Some don’t even have a Christmas tree or presents under the tree,” Kesting said. “I’ve been Santa a few times and it’s heart wrenching when you hand a present to a four or five-year-old and say put this under a tree and they respond by telling you they don’t have a tree.”

Joanne Merseal, from Women and Timber, said that they purchase what they have to for the baskets with funds raised through the thrift store in Superior. Merseal keeps track of how many baskets are delivered each year, what goes into each basket, how many kids receive presents and how much it costs to put a single basket together. The groups split the cost each year and Merseal said she feels that the partnership has worked well.  Merseal said the women are in charge of ordering all the food and getting the toys. The Lions Club members help assemble the baskets and also deliver them throughout the entire county.

“These baskets are for all needy families in Mineral County,” Merseal said.

Merseal said that Mineral County is one of the poorest counties in the state and she’s anticipating a lot more baskets will be distributed this year.

“A lot more people seem to be laid off and I think there’s going to be a larger need this year,” she said. “I hope we are filling the need and I think we are.”

For the volunteers, the time they spend loading boxes and preparing boxes can’t be measured in comparison to what they provide for local families in the area.

“I just enjoy doing it,” Merseal said. “I’ve done it for over twenty years now and I just enjoy it. I think the rest of the women do as well.”