Wendy Cody-Special to the Sun

Kern River Valley has various local programs that offer assistance to those in need throughout the year. The organizations are set up to provide a variety of aid from food, clothing, toiletries and baby formula to baskets of food for holiday meals and toys for the children. Many count solely on donations from community members and volunteer workers to proceed. There is a great deal of organizing, arranging, purchasing, and distributing that goes into this process of seeing that the giving continues.

For the next few weeks Sun readers will be hearing about some of the specifics--who these generous folks are; some of what these givers need, such as more volunteer helpers, cash donations to buy items that are not or cannot be donated. These individuals and all of you who help make it all happen!

Holiday volunteers served many Kern Valleyites at last year’s Thanksgiving dinner at the Senior Center in Lake Isabella.

Since the 1980’s, God’s Storehouse has been in operation. It operates at the Weldon United Methodist Church. Jackie Cole has been coordinator for about six years, with approximately 10 volunteers who make the Storehouse work. Cole said that recently they were able to purchase a walk-in refrigerator and are now able to provide those in need with more fresh food items. Baby formula is available. She tries to keep bus passes on hand so that those who have no transportation may get there to obtain the food and return home. There are various programs for families, seniors, singles, and shut-ins.

There seems to be a greater need these days, probably due to the price of gasoline and other necessities rising almost daily, Cole said. People just seem to be having more difficulty making ends meet, she said; there are referrals from the Family Resource Center almost monthly now.

God's Storehouse has more than 500 families signed up for their programs. Cole said the average family number is three, thus totaling 1,500 people needing assistance. This number does not decrease during the holidays, of course.

Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner foods are provided, as well as toys for the children. God’s Storehouse receives no assistance from other programs. It relies completely on the kindness and generosity of members of the community.

For years now, God’s Storehouse has had the little handmade churches in stores for shoppers to make donations for the holiday giving programs. Monetary contributions may also be sent to the church at P.O. Box 1209, Weldon, CA 93283.

Food items needed are canned meat, canned fruit, canned soup, canned vegetables, jelly, jam, peanut butter, dried pastas, rice, dry beans, cereals hot or cold, fresh vegetables and fruit. Paper towels, toilet paper, small shampoos, soaps, lotions from motels are needed to provide to senior shut-ins as well as the homeless. Items most of us have on hand and consider necessities become luxury items for those with so little income.

God’s Storehouse began the sign-up process for Christmas baskets on Tuesday, Nov. 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sign-ups will continue each Tuesday until Dec. 18. Everyone who wishes to sign up must do so in person and must provide a photo ID as well as proof of all family members living in the home. All families wanting groceries for the month of December MUST sign up for the Christmas Basket as no other family groceries will be distributed during December.

Cole and the volunteers at God’s Storehouse are hoping to be able to operate a toy room this year for children living in the home, ages 0-17. There are no toys received for this from any other source, and they are not a part of Toys for Tots. You may donate toys at the Furniture Store in Lake Isabella; Mountain Mesa Market in Mountain Mesa; or Sierra Gateway Market in South Lake. For additional information, please call 378-2321.

Please help God’s Storehouse help others this Holiday Season. You can be part of making someone else’s Holidays the happiest!