A file photo of Trayton Andersen and his mother Jackie Andersen are both members of the Preston Elks Lodge. They show a start of the donations that will roll in for Christmas Boxes.
PRESTON – There is some excitement in the air this time of year in Preston. The Preston Elks Lodge 1670 and hundreds of volunteers gather to box up donated food and deliver a Christmas meal to those in need.
It has been a rough year for many Franklin County organizations, but it has also brought out the best in people.
The Christmas Box program is the kind of thing that blesses the people they are giving them to, but also the many people involved in the effort can feel the holiday cheer.
The need continues to grow as grocery store commodity prices go up and families are caught struggling to keep up with inflation.
Jackie Andersen is the Elk Lodge Head Trusty, the Drug Awareness Chairman for District 5 and has been spearheading the program for the last seven years.
“I think things are tough for a lot of families in the area. The economy has gone downhill, and families are struggling,” she said. “Everything has not only gone up in the grocery store but everywhere else.”
Andersen said even members of the Lodge had to dig deeper into their pockets to help make the program successful this year.
“Schools that normally give tons and tons of food seem to be struggling,” Andersen said. “This year they aren’t collecting the cans of food they have in the past and that tells me everyone is struggling.”
The Elks’ Christmas Box has helped families by delivering holiday meals for over 60 years. It started with 10 to 15 boxes and has grown to hundreds. Their footprint extends from Preston to Bancroft and Chesterfield to Bear Lake County. Even Richmond, Utah families will be touched by Preston’s Elks offerings.
The Elks Lodge receives checks from different churches, individuals, and businesses. The demolition derby was the biggest thing that supports the Christmas Box program.
Profits from the Father’s Day Demolition Derby held at the rodeo grounds is the major contributor to the Christmas Box program.
This year they are planning on making up to 800 Christmas Food Boxes. Which is getting close to the most meals they have ever delivered.
“It was amazing to see the donations come in from struggling businesses and people. The merchants are absolutely wonderful,” Andersen said. “As of right now, we have had some amazing things happen, the money donated will go a long way to help.”
This week collected food and other things for the Christmas Boxes are beginning to arrive.
There is a dedicated room at the Elks Lodge where the commodities are gathered and stored, and it is starting to fill up. By the time they are ready to organize the baskets the room will be filled to over six feet high of food and there will be little room to stand.
“We have young men and young women groups form the local churches come in and help organize the boxes,” Andersen said. “Then we have Franklin County Search and Rescue and volunteers from Franklin County Medical Center come in and help.”
The record is 807 boxes. The past few years they have been averaging in the high 700s. This year they are planning to assemble close to 800 meals, possibly breaking their all-time record.
“A meal is loaded into two different sized boxes: one with fresh food including a turkey or ham and one filled canned goods,” she said. “We not only assemble the baskets, but they also have volunteers deliver them and that is no small task.”
Casey Cerrado needs to be thanked for his efforts this year helping with this year’s Christmas Box program.
“Casey has been my shadow this year making sure everything is in place,” Andersen said. “He has been a big help.”
The real work will start sorting all the food on Monday, Dec. 11 and Tuesday Dec.12. On Wednesday, Dec. 13 and Thursday, Dec. 14 the baskets will be assembled.
On Saturday, Dec. 16 over 100 drivers will deliver the baskets to homes where they are needed; some locations are over 60 miles one way.