By Brian M. Boyce
TERRE HAUTE — Nearly 200 volunteers bustled about the Tribune-Star on Thursday morning, preparing 500 food baskets for delivery throughout town.
“To me, I feel it’s a great way to give back to the community,” Mike Braun said amid a drizzling rain. Unloading boxed Christmas baskets from a Tribune-Star van on South Sixth Street, the single-copy driver said he’s participated in the program each of his 25 years with the newspaper.
Co-worker Kathy Monroe hopped in and out of the van, carrying boxes from one house to the next as they made their deliveries to needy families along South Sixth and South 13th streets up to International Village on South Seventh Street.
Kim Wilkerson, business office employee and veteran basket committee volunteer, said this year that 500 Christmas baskets were delivered, each containing milk, ham, noodles, bread, rolls, canned vegetables and fresh fruit.
A dozen employees volunteered for basket assembly Wednesday at the Tribune-Star production facility on East Margaret Avenue, and more than 200 gathered at the South Seventh Street building Christmas Eve morning to deliver baskets between 7 a.m. and noon. Fifty-nine routes were covered in about four hours, Wilkerson said in between making calls from the Tribune-Star break room to recipients who weren’t home at the time of delivery to re-schedule.
Meanwhile, Tribune-Star publisher B.J. Riley, his wife, Mary, and their two children loaded up the family van with boxes and headed for a route along North 15th and 17th streets.
Cindy Wrightsman opened the door of her home on North 17th to a welcomed box of holiday fare, accepting books for her four children, ages 8 through 15, from Mary Riley.
“I appreciate it,” she said.
The Christmas Basket program has been a Tribune-Star tradition since the 1920s. Basket recipients are determined by The Salvation Army, and the list is given to the Tribune-Star, which organizes the distribution by the volunteers. As of Wednesday afternoon, donations for the effort had exceeded $18,640, a little short of the $20,000 goal, but better than expected, considering the difficult economic times this year.
Donations may be sent to Tribune-Star Basket Fund, P.O. Box 149, Terre Haute, IN 47808. Contributions are accepted year-round.
Back at the Tribune-Star’s break room, 9-year-old volunteer Alexis Jenkins helped out while wearing a red and white Santa Claus hat with the words “Sugar Plum” emblazoned across.
“To help people that are poor,” she said when asked why she was volunteering on Christmas Eve. “And it’s fun.”
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
Tribune-Star Christmas Basket Fund — Updated list
Since the late 1920s, the Tribune-Star has raised money for Christmas baskets to help feed needy families. This year’s goal for the Tribune-Star Basket Fund is more than $20,000, which will provide bountiful Christmas dinners to 500 families this year.
Starting balance $15,751.17
Tracey W. Cook $40
In Memory of
The Stroot Family $50
In Memory of Pete Massinon $25
Anonymous $100
Lawton Byrum
Auxiliary No. 972 $100
Dick & Donnetta Smith
& Graham Feed Employees $220
Charles & Laura Mitchell $25
United Brotherhood of
Carpenters & Joiners of America
Local No. 133 $200
In Memory of “Patches” $200
In Memory of
Jane & Wayne Maynard
& Shirley Clements $50
Wabash Valley Asphalt Co. $500
Anonymous $50
In Memory of
James E. Sullivan Jr. $100
Srs. Rosemary & Ellen, S.P. $20
In Memory of
Jeff Blackford, Sr. $40
In Loving Memory of
George B. Mullen, George E. Mullen
Mr. & Mrs. Jacob Mullen
Mr. & Mrs. James H. Clements Sr. $200
Brittany Orlebecke $25
Dave Quist $50
Karen Quist $25
Tribune-Star Newsroom Auction $345
Rio Grande Full Gospel Church $100
In Memory of
Robert Sr. & Gloria Dennany $50
Raymond & Mary Dennany $25
Daniel & Roberta Hurst $25
In Memory of
John, Alice & Pauline $75
In Memory of Michael Kelty $50
In Memory of
Harvey H. Hayhurst $50
Industrial Supply Co. $200
Ending Balance $18,691.17
Mail donations to: Tribune-Star Basket Fund, P.O. Box 149, Terre Haute, IN 47808.
Tribune-Star employees have celebrated the holiday season for more than 80 years by distributing Christmas baskets to families in need.
They have done this with the cooperation of The Salvation Army, which provides names of area residents who might otherwise do without.
To volunteer to help deliver baskets, please call Michelle Poorman at (812) 231-4360.
