The biggest delivery of CanTree food was to the Lakeport Senior Center. From left to right, senior center Head Chef Jose Plata, Miss Lake County Jennifer Humble, Lakeport Senior Center Administrator Jonathan Crooks and CanTree Coordinator Phil Smoley. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The 2011 Realtor CanTree was a big success this year, raising $3,000 and collecting 1,500 cans of food for the Lakeport Senior Center and North Coast Opportunities.

During its 23-year existence in Lake County, the Realtor CanTree has collected the equivalent of more than 110,000 cans on behalf of local food cupboards, according to CanTree Coordinator Phil Smoley.

Besides Smoley, this year's CanTree team included CPS Realtor Diana Dahl, Bruce Dahl, Rob Foglestrom, CPS Realtor Ruby Martinez, CPS Realtor Tom Pelandini, 2012 Miss Lake County Jennifer Humble and 2012 Miss Teen Alice Crockett.

This year, there were 33 dropoff locations around Lakeport. But the primary focus has always been on the competition between the 23 county of Lake departments.

A former county employee himself, Smoley started a friendly competition in 1988 where the department that donates the most average per employee wins a pizza party. "It gets real competitive at times," Smoley said. "It gets them all fired up to donate so they can win a party. And it all goes to a great cause."

This year's winner was the Human Resources Department. It's the third year they've won.

"But Community Development came in a strong second, so they are getting a pizza party, too," Smoley promised.

The Lakeport Senior Center and North Coast Opportunities provide affordable meals and other needed services to Lake County senior citizens.