Saratoga News Foothill Club members give time and food to the needy Tradition started 45 years ago By Michelle Alaimo 'Tis the season to give, and that is exactly what members of the Saratoga Foothill Club are doing. For 45 years, the club has helped spread holiday cheer to limited-income seniors and needy families throughout Saratoga by giving Christmas baskets full of goodies for meals "They attempt to give a little lift to people on a limited income," club member Ronnie Rabedau says. The collection of items for the baskets is a community effort, says Felicia Pollock, another member. Schools in the Saratoga Union School District collect canned goods and dried staples for the baskets. Because of the variety of foods collected by the schools, club members never know what they have until it is time to start sorting on Dec. 21. "When it comes to Monday morning, it's potluck," Pollock says. "We try to make a nice mix of food." The Salvation Army provides either a chicken or turkey. And members of the Foothill Club raise money to purchase fresh vegetables, fruits, pies and rolls. Pollock adds that local businesses also contribute items for the baskets and that one year, a local nursery donated poinsettia plants. Some 15 volunteers and some club members' husbands help put the 100 baskets together in the Foothill School cafeteria. In the end, the baskets provide enough food to make complete meals for several weeks, Pollock said. The baskets, which are actually large boxes filled to the brim with food, are delivered on Dec. 23 by volunteer firefighters from Saratoga and a youth group from St. Andrew's Church. Although recipients are aware the baskets are coming, Pollock recalls a time when an elderly woman refused to open the door because she didn't know who Pollock was. So Pollock went home and called the woman to identify herself before going back and being granted entrance. In addition to giving baskets to limited-income seniors, Rabedau said the club also provides baskets to needy families whose names they get from the schools. Although the project requires a lot of time from club members, they enjoy the work. "Everyone feels so good about doing it," Pollock said. [ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Saratoga News, December 23, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.