MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Because the person who supplied the largest and most auspicious donation to the Spirit of the Season program in South Lake County requested anonymity, he or she shall remain nameless.
The donor is providing 102 turkeys for the event, which culminates next Saturday at First Baptist Church in Middletown.
Along with other holiday victuals, 102 boxes – each containing more than $100 worth of food – will be given away to feed more than 300 clients.
The turkeys, it is estimated, will cost the anonymous giver $1,500 to $2,000.
All of the food is purchased, not donated.
While delighted by the anonymous gift, Hedy Montoya, who has administered Spirit of the Season for the past dozen years, is no less grateful for the aid volunteers and annual donors who, to her, are anything but anonymous.
“I couldn’t do this without volunteers,” said Montoya. “The women who are standing over my shoulder have been doing this work as long as I have … Carolyn Tobin, Rosemary Pott, Kathleen and Kelly Connors, Phyllis Kelsey and Bonnie Thompson.
“They have been doing incredible behind-the-scenes work,” she said.
This year, Frank Parker – president of United Veterans Council of Lake County – and local veterans are coming to assist as they do every year. “They do the heavy schlepping, as does my husband Bryan Ridste,” Montoya said.
Regarding the donors who give annually, Montoya added: “If they didn’t we would not be sitting here talking.”
For the lion’s share of its more than 20-year existence, the highlight of the Spirit of the Season activity has been the gifts of toys made possible by wish trees at several locations in Middletown, Cobb Mountain and Hidden Valley Lake, but principally at Hardester’s Markets in Middletown and Hidden Valley.
“What we ask community members to do is pick up a card from one of the wish trees, buy a present for a child for $25 or less and return it by Tuesday, Dec. 16,” said Montoya. “Each card has three different wishes. After buying their gift, people should take it to Hardester’s where our people will go pick it up.”
But Montoya was concerned this week that there were still several cards on the wish trees. Donors can send their donations to Spirit of the Season, P.O. Box 1468, Middletown. Questions can be directed to Montoya at 707-322-5080.
“It is a tax-deductible donation because we partner with St. Joseph’s Catholic Church,” said Montoya.
The program benefits more than just families and small children. Teenagers get a $25 gift certificate.
Twenty percent of the clients are seniors, receiving no more than $600 monthly Social Security allowances. Some are field laborers.
Montoya remembers a couple of cases where a teenager who was helped by the program returned years later with children of their own.
“It’s a grassroots thing. Everybody’s a volunteer,” she said. “Donations come from community service groups.”
How does a person get so devoted to a program such as Spirit of the Season?
Montoya recalled a rainy day when a woman, her little girl in tow, came in for her food package.
The little girl was joyous when she received a tricycle. Her mother had tears in her eyes.
Need Hedy say more?
Email John Lindblom at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .