Lake County Community Action Agency and Catholic Charities are reporting that while the need is great, donations have been slow.
At the same time, the second annual “Warm for the Winter” – which is collecting warm clothing, blankets and food for the homeless – also is under way and seeking help from the community.
Marty Comito at the Lake County Community Action Agency said they've signed up 517 children of various ages for gifts this year, down from the 631children who were on the list in 2008. In addition, the local Elks Club has taken on providing gifts for another 100 children.
Signups took place around Thanksgiving, and gift drop boxes were then put out around the county at the start of December, she said.
Comito estimated they need another 240 gifts to meet all of their needs. They're particularly short of items for children in the 6 to 12 years old age bracket.
“It's hard every year, but we were particularly concerned this year because of the economy,” Comito said.
Once toys are collected, parents whose children are signed up are invited to the agency where they select the toys for their children. Comito said it's then up the parents to wrap the presents. “It's a real community effort that way,” she said.
The goal is to have gifts valuing at least $10 for each child, she added.
Vicki Ellsworth, who is overseeing the drop boxes, said they've been placed in several communities around the south end of the lake. They're also collecting toys for Toys For Tots, she said.
Drop boxes can be found in Lower Lake at Day's Supply and Burton Jernigan Insurance; in Clearlake Oaks at Tower Mart, Northshore Fire's Clearlake Oaks station and Mediacom; in Clearlake at Lake County Fire Protection District's station, Clearlake Auto Care Center, Yuba College's computer lab, Bank of the West, Four Corners Builders Supply, Mendo Mill, Wachovia Bank, Westamerica Bank, Main Street Cafe, Clear Lake Observer-American, Lake County Community Action Agency, One Stop Automotive and Griffin Furniture.
Ellsworth said the boxes will be in place until Dec. 17.
In Middletown, the slow donations are a concern for Hedy Montoya, regional director for Catholic Charities, which now is running its annual “Spirit of the Season” campaign to help those in need.
This year Catholic Charities has 120 Lake County families with about 250 children signed up to receive gifts, a number that's down slightly from last year, Montoya said.
She said gifts were supposed to be returned by Dec. 9, but they've had to extend the deadline to Dec. 15 because, for the first time in seven years, the gifts just haven't come in.
Wish trees are placed in several south county businesses, said Montoya. They can be found in Middletown at Tri Counties Bank, Westamerica Bank, Twin Pine Casino, Century 21 and St. Joseph's Church; and in Hidden Valley Lake at Century 21 and Hidden Valley Lake Realty.
The trees have bells on which three of the children's wishes are written, she explained. Those who want to make a donation take the bell, purchase a gift and return the gift in a gift bag, accompanied by the bell, to the Middletown Catholic Charities Office, 21257 Calistoga St., near the library.
Montoya said they also welcome donations of money in lieu of gifts.
Another effort under way this year is the second annual “Warm for the Winter” clothes and food drive.
Clearlake City Council member Joyce Overton, who is organizing the campaign, said the effort is meant to assist the area's homeless population.
With winter's frigid temperatures now here, Warm for the Winter is seeking clothing items such as gloves, long-sleeved shirts, sweatshirts, coats, ear muffs and jackets, as well as blankets, tarps, tents and other items to help offer shelter.
They're also seeking canned food and any food to which hot water can be added – such as hot chocolate packets, soups and noodle dinners, Overton said.
Food and warm clothing can be dropped off at the following locations: in Clearlake, Foods Etc., Mendo Mill and Tatonka; and in Hidden Valley, Chic Le Chief.
She said more locations will be announced, and they're also welcoming additional businesses that would like to be drop spots for donations.
For more information about these efforts, call the Lake County Community Action Agency at 707-995-2920; Catholic Charities at 707-987-8139; or Joyce Overton at 707-350-2898.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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