At the April 24 meeting of the Rotary Club of Tehachapi, Club Service Chair Rhonda Brady thanked Mountain Bible Church for its generosity and the support for the 12 Days of Christmas food drive.
Every year, the Rotary Club of Tehachapi spearheads the food drive, encouraging the community to put together food boxes that will go to families and seniors in need within the greater Tehachapi area.
The Rotary Club publishes and distributes a list of 24 pantry staples, two items on each of the 12 Days of Christmas, and Brady updates the list each year. The list contains foods such as rice, peanut butter, canned vegetables, canned meats, pasta, soups, and other items that can be used to make a nutritious meal. In addition, many people also donate useful items, such as toiletries, socks and blankets, which make a nice care package for the recipients. Rotary partners with the city of Tehachapi, which provides personal home delivery of all the boxes.
Brady highlighted the dedication and commitment that Mountain Bible Church has for the project, as the church allows the Rotary Club to use space at their facility to store thousands of food items for several weeks as the donations pour in from the community. The church also allows Rotarians access to a large meeting room to pack and prepare up to 125 boxes for distribution.
Brady said that although Pastor George Alaniz is rather new, Linda Lichtenwaldt has been there for a number of years. She has been instrumental to the success of the food drive, and she is always willing and flexible to help the Rotarians with whatever they need. She has often made a special trip to unlock the door so the cub could deliver donations, even on her days off!
To thank Mountain Bible Church for its support and generosity, the Rotary Club of Tehachapi presented its members with a $500 donation, which Pastor George said was “greatly appreciated and would be put to good use.” Brady also presented Lichtenwaldt with a card that contained some gift cards donated by club members, and a beautiful wreath, which was custom-made for her by Karen Munson, the wife of Rotarian Jerry Munson.
Susan Andreas-Bervel is secretary of Rotary Club of Tehachapi.