Here is a big thank you and Happy New Year wishes to everyone who made the Upper Lake Fire Auxiliary Christmas Cheer packages happen this year.

We gave out just over 60 baskets, full of canned or dried goods, fresh oranges, apples, potatoes, ham or turkey, bread and a gift for every child in the family under 18 in the family.

Sentry Market gave us bread and Seeley Farms gave apples. Safeway gave us a gift certificate to buy hams. Chuck and Sharon from Pet Acres quietly put together packages for at least 50 seniors and families along with their family members.

Canned goods came in droves from Upper Lake School classes and clubs. The newly chartered Northshore Lions, Westamerica Bank and Blue Lakes Fire Auxiliary gave us generous donations that helped buy turkeys and hams for all the boxes.

Artie Frangos, a local Realtor, donated a basket with a ham. Sons of Italy in Nice members collected 13 boxes of food plus five turkeys with another monetary donation for hams.

Three wonderful customers from my store donated Sentry turkey bucks, $50 and a turkey when I casually mentioned we needed more meat items.

Many other community members picked gift tags off the tree located at Westamerica Bank to provide gifts for needy children.

Everyone was so giving and thankful without blinking an eye, it made my heart proud of our wonderful Northshore community.

 

Debbie Clarke is owner of Clarke's Collectibles in Nice.