OTHELLO — The tables were heaped with toys and books, a big plastic bin filled with winter hats, piles of blankets and pillowcases – all of which had to be sorted for donation to individual families. The volunteers each picked up a bag and went to work.

The Othello Community Christmas Basket Program has been an all-community project for nearly half a century, and by now there’s a routine. Volunteers start with the list and label a big plastic bag for each kid. Other volunteers fill the bags, surveying the tables to see what they can find.

Jennifer Baginski brought her nephew Eli Baginski, who was so excited he ran back and forth to help his aunt fill the toy bags. Eli diligently searched through the bin of knit hats, helping his aunt find a hat small enough for a 2-year-old, and helped her pick out just the right toy cars. Mireya Ayala and her little sister Nayeli Ayala also looked for just the right toy car, or the right doll or right game, depending on the child’s age and gender. Every kid got a book.

The toys were bagged Dec. 16 in preparation for distribution the following Saturday. The food was sorted Dec. 15, and Ken Johnson, one of the organizers, said the volunteer crew put together about 400 food boxes in four and a half hours.

Johnson is the second generation of his family to work on organizing the Othello Community Christmas Basket Program.

“I think we’re on our 45th year, 45th or 46th,” he said. “A long time. A lot of families.”

Over time, the project has grown to include almost the whole town of Othello. Othello schools hold food drives, which brought in more than 7,000 boxes, cans and bags of food this year. Local food processing companies donated fresh fruits and vegetables. Churches, businesses and community organizations all have their yearly projects, which they coordinate with the program.

“That’s what it is. A community effort,” Johnson said.

Recipients are recommended by schools and churches; the limit is one basket per family.

Volunteers sort and organize all the food and toys, other volunteers get the boxes ready for delivery, and still other volunteers deliver. The cars were lined up outside the Adams County Fire District 5 fire hall early Saturday morning.

One group of volunteers assembled the bags of oranges and onions, the canned goods and loves of bread on carts, which could be rolled up to the vehicles.

Two people operated the firehouse doors. A car was loaded, the door opening onto South Broadway Avenue went up, and the car rolled out. The back door was opened and another car rolled in.

Adolfo Coronado, head coach for the girls basketball team, was working the back door, and the assistant coaches and girls basketball players were loading carts and cars. Briana Andrade said it was pretty busy when distribution started, but there was a lull as drivers made their deliveries before returning to the fire hall.

But sometimes drivers come back, having discovered, or learned about, another family in need.

“We find out about them (additional families),” Johnson said, adding there’s usually enough food and toys to build and distribute extra baskets.

This year, the volunteers delivered 365 baskets, which was down from 2020, when 467 were distributed.

The Othello Community Christmas Basket Program began with a conversation among six people at the Fraternal Order of Eagles-3396 Aerie in Othello in about 1976. Merritt Johnson, one of the original six, said in an earlier interview they pooled their money and bought food and toys for some families in need. In the beginning, the project was sponsored by local community groups, but it grew so big eventually it was reorganized into its own non-profit organization.

Any toys left over after distribution are stored until next year, Johnson said. Any food left over is donated to the Othello Food Bank. The Othello Community Christmas Basket Program also accepts donations year-round, and has dedicated accounts at the Othello branches of Columbia Bank and U.S. Bank.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].