MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Recently, the Middletown Senior Center, Highland Senior Center and Hope City received a donation of locally raised meat purchased by Calpine Corp. at this year’s Lake County Junior Livestock Auction.

To support Lake County 4-H and FFA youth, Calpine is a buyer at the Lake County Fair’s Junior Livestock Auction.

Following the fair, Calpine donates the meat locally to Lake County Meals on Wheels programs, senior centers, food banks and fundraising events.

“Since COVID-19 our client base has grown 40 percent which means our food cost has increased significantly. This donation will help us bridge the gap,” said Middletown Senior Center Executive Director Lori Tourville.

Chef Malori Tourville, Middletown Senior Center, who is always working to create creative, nutritious and delicious meals for those the center serves, said, “This is exciting, I can’t wait to make chili verde and beans and ham hocks.”

“Due to the COVID-19 virus we have been unable to fundraise to help with our programs. Our thrift store was shut down for six months and donations are at the lowest the center has ever seen,” said Joyce Overton, Clearlake Senior Center executive director. “Calpine’s donation will help us continue our Meals on Wheels program without any interruptions. Our seniors, the board of directors and our staff thank Calpine for their help through this tragic time in our seniors’ lives.”

“Calpine, your donation helps fuel our hard-working volunteers while they are serving here in Middletown to rebuild homes in the area for families who lost their home in a wildfire,” said Kevin Cox, CEO and founder of Hope City/Crisis Response Network. “Your gift means a great meal for our volunteers. Hope Crisis Response Network also hosts weekly family night dinners where we invite our local homeowners to come and share a meal with our staff and volunteers. Thank you for making these nights extra special through this donation. Also, as a parent of a 10 year 4-H member myself, I appreciate your support of local youth and young farmers.”

This year Calpine purchased more than 5,000 pounds of locally grown meat from deserving Lake County youth.

Omar Cacho, from Kelseyville FFA member, who raised a pig purchased by Calpine said, “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your support has really helped me through this unpredictable year.”

William Boden, Middletown FFA member, also raised a pig purchased by Calpine. “I’m grateful for you! My pig project is important to me, and this year was different. But, you made a big difference and helped make it successful,” he said.

“At a time where kids are secluded due to the pandemic, it was especially important this year for them to be able to bring their animals to market. Parents report that it gave kids a purpose in a summer of isolation or online communication,” said Lake County Fair CEO Sheli Wright.

Wright added, “These kids are hard workers, many of whom have had their project for nine months or more and have raised and bred their own home steers, lambs, goats, or pigs. The Lake County Fair’s Junior Livestock auction offers an opportunity to support and encourage the community’s youth, and specifically, purchases from business like Calpine, support local youth efforts in establishing a small-scale agribusiness operation. Not only do exhibitors learn business and marketing skills, they also learn many life skills such as responsibility and teamwork. Contributions, like those from important businesses such as Calpine, help mold the leaders, entrepreneurs, and workforce of the future. Lake County Fair is truly touched by all the support given this year in order to make the virtual auction a great success.”

Stacy McGrath, purchasing supervisor for Calpine, is a supporter of the Lake County Fair, especially the livestock auction.

Each year, as a buyer for Calpine, she lends her time to interviewing youth in advance of the auction. Having participated in auctions as a youth herself, McGrath understands the challenges and rewards involved.

“These students work hard to raise their project animals and make it to the auction,” she said. “But to be successful, they also need to put in the time marketing and soliciting buyers. Although the auction was virtual, Calpine still hosted 26 interviews and received three additional buyer invitations. Despite the uncertainty this year brought, every student we interviewed impressed us by their resilience and dedication.”