VOICES: Opinion by Tamara Jenkinson, Willow Creek Resource Center

Dear Two Rivers Tribune,

The Holiday Season in Willow creek was a little brighter due to the work of many tireless individuals who gathered food, went shopping, signed up families with Salvation Army or Toys for Tots, and brought donations of food and toys and clothing to the Resource center for distribution.  Many many individuals, too many to mention by name, gave bags of food, and cash donations to augment the holiday giving grants.

A huge thank you goes to the Holiday Giving partnership, a collaboration of the following organizations: St Joseph Health, Mel and Grace McLean Foundation, Union Labor Health Foundation with Humboldt Area Foundation. Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, and the good people of Eureka who helped with toys.

Locally, Faith Center – Trinity Campus, Willow Creek Coast Central Credit Union, and Umpqua Bank, as well as Farmer Browns, Ace Hardware, Dream Quest, Trinity Valley Consulting Engineers, and Willow Creek Community Resource Center helped to serve 114 families in this area, who were unable to provide toys and food for their families and themselves.

Thank you as well to the local VFW in Willow Creek for letting us use the hall for this endeavor. Faith Center-Trinity Campus has a wonderful congregation. They were left with the most challenging part, trying to make sure that even those who missed the sign-ups and main distribution got food bags or toys. Michael Wickard, a very talented young musician from the Faith Center, came to the Resource Center and offered Christmas carols. The Resource Center hosted a sing-along and patrons of the center as well as volunteers enjoyed some holiday cheer.

We are so fortunate to live in an area where people reach out to each other each year and all year long.

Sincerely,
Tamara Jenkinson
St Joseph Health -Willow Creek Community Resource Center