Once again, the Elks pulled through and made Christmas merry for hundreds of families in the Puyallup area. Under the leadership of Chuck and Lori Tibbs, Elks 1450 and the Ladies of the Elks worked all year to provide food and presents for those in need.
The Statistics
- Over 225 families drove through to receive food and holiday gifts.
- 9+ tons of canned goods, fruits, vegetables, bread, milk, butter, and turkeys were given away.
- For a short while, traffic was backed up on East Main Street in front of the Lodge with cars waiting to pick up food.
Since the beginning of December food was collected by Puyallup area elementary schools and junior high schools, along with Elks donations of food and money. The food was brought to the Lodge for sorting and was divided by dozens of volunteers into two to three boxes per family. Local farms and businesses provided dairy products, fruits, vegetables, turkeys, and more.
Recipients got their food boxes, presents and even Christmas wreaths at the Lodge on the morning of Saturday, December 17.
So Many to Thank
The Food Basket program was not a single-handed effort on behalf of one person or even one organization. There are so many to thank. At the top of the Thank You list is Chuck Tibbs, Past Exalted Ruler of the Puyallup Elks Lodge, who has been orchestrating this program for a number of years.
The Puyallup Ladies of the Elks gathered donations, presents, and warm clothing for the children. Many parents had tears in their eyes, realizing their children would get presents this year.
The following Puyallup elementary schools were responsible for donating vast quantities of food: Brouillet, Carlson, Edgerton, Firgrove, Fruitland, Hunt, Maplewood, Ridge Crest, Spinning, Waller Road, and Zeiger. A special Thank You goes out to Aylen Junior High School for filling 3 buses with food! Thanks to Puyallup High School, Advanced and Gateway programs for sorting all the food items. Walker High School helped us move tons of food.
Sterino Farms provided fresh fruits and vegetables. Restaurant Depot helped with dairy products. Snowshoe Evergreen gave traditional holiday wreaths. Lakewood Ford and McMillin Farm helped with transportation to pick up food items from businesses around town. The local Fred Meyers store donated gift cards to every family.
Lastly, the Puyallup Elks Lodge Food Basket program could not have happened without the strong backs of volunteers that sorted food goods, packed boxes, and lifted the boxes into the trunks of the many vehicles.
Christmas presents await selection by children and parents.
Ladies of the Elks President Lori Tibbs was there from start to finish.
Dave Weldon fills boxes with groceries.
Exalted Ruler Steve Scholz had a wreath for each family.
Santa and his elves delighted children with presents and photos.
Lecturing Knight Jeremie Nielson took on much of the heavy lifting.