Holiday Gift Baskets
aid needy
"Five bucks or five thousand—
come in and put your best foot forward."
Heather Gillespie
By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer
In a community of million-dollar homes, fancy cars and high-tech sports
gear, there are still many folks who have trouble making ends meet.
Ketchum resident Heather Gillespie is aware of that situation and cares
enough to help. She will aid the needy over the Christmas holidays by taking the reins of
the Community Holiday Gift Baskets program.
The program, started 13 years ago by Janice Duncan, delivers gift baskets
to homes in the valley.
Gillespie, 30, moved to the Wood River Valley from Anchorage, Alaska,
where she was involved in fundraising for Coats for Kids and in outside sales for a
corporation.
"I got an opportunity to see the effect [the work] was doing,"
she said.
She also helped with fundraising for the Children’s Orthopedic
Hospital in Seattle.
Gillespie works as a salesperson for KECH radio
"The station was talking about becoming involved in the
community," she said. "Scott [Parker] allows us to be involved and use the
station’s resources."
KECH has permitted Gillespie to take time-off for the cause, and will
donate free advertising for the program.
"The entire staff has gotten very involved. This way we can reach out
and raise awareness in the community."
She also is involved in the Leukemia Society of America.
"You get to touch people’s lives," she said about her
charity work.
Earlier this year, local Realtor Rick Davis suggested that Gillespie call
Duncan, who was just burned out from running the program, Gillespie said.
Last year, according to Gillespie, Duncan spent $6,000 out of her own
pocket. The Sawtooth Board of Realtors came in at the last minute and reimbursed her for
half of what she’d spent. Duncan was willing to pass the baton over to Gillespie this
year, and has been aiding her in all aspects of the program, Gillespie said.
"Janice has been a huge pivotal point and really nice."
Gillespie transformed the Community Holiday Gift Baskets Program into a
non-profit Idaho corporation, so any donations are now tax deductible. Along with
Gillespie, her brother and mother, who do not live here, are also listed as directors of
the corporation.
Gillespie estimates they will need 500 volunteers between Dec. 18 and 22.
The Hailey armory, where the baskets are created, opens on Dec. 18 for business donations.
Volunteers organize donations on Dec. 19 and 20, do pick-ups and deliveries on Dec. 21 and
clean up on Dec. 22.
Applications to receive baskets have been left in nine places, including
the Blaine County Senior Center, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare office, Head
Start and the Advocates for Survivors of Domestic Violence office. The application asks
about family size and special needs and has a place for special requests.
"It’s a shocker when you see what they don’t have,"
Gillespie said.
Area business and schools are helping out this year as well. The Silver
Creek Alternative School has traditionally aided in the basket deliveries, while Ernest
Hemingway Elementary School is hosting a drive for canned food and funds. Though the date
is still not definite, Gillespie said, the school is shooting for Dec. 4 or
Dec. 15.
"They’ve been great and so supportive."
Atkinsons’ Market is "meeting them halfway with price on
turkeys."
Funding is used to finish baskets if need be and to supplement the gifts,
especially for teenagers, for whom donations are hard to come by, Gillespie said.
There will also be a fund raiser in December at The Sawtooth Club, and any
business that has a donation box at its locale receives mention on the air from KECH.
Meetings for all current and prospective volunteers and anyone who wants
to donate will be held at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church in Ketchum on Dec. 1 and
15 at 5 p.m. Also invited are people with ideas for fund raising.
Gillespie said donations of all kinds have been declining over the past
few years.
"I’ll take whatever I can get," she said, except, used and
broken toys and used clothing items that are stained or ripped.
A basket for a family of four typically will include a turkey, boxed
stuffing, a pumpkin pie, rolls, condensed milk, apples, oranges, onions, potatoes and new
unwrapped toys. Gillespie says that to supplement those foods she will buy some perishable
items such as eggs, butter, bread and mayonnaise on the day the baskets are delivered.
Presents for teenagers Gillespie suggested are new socks, barrettes, CDs,
gift certificates, books and makeup.
"Hopefully we can raise the bar on what is given."
She also is anxious to receive baby gear, such as boxes of diapers, baby
food, evaporated milk, diaper creme, baby powder and bags of unused bottles and nipples.
The Community Holiday Basket program’s goal is to raise $50,000 this
year through the various fund raisers and donations.
"Five bucks or five thousand---come in and put your best foot
forward," Gillespie said.
