I'm not sure where to start, so first a huge thank you! Everyone who has given food, donated money, shopped, staffed, worried, rearranged life, organized food and sock drives. Wow! We are so grateful, and you all know why we do this.

On Nov. 26, through the goodness of many, and especially the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church deacons, the Methodist Church (Pastor Wanda and Ken) and the Unitarian Universalists, we gave away 70 frozen chickens, celery, potatoes, carrots, onion, green tomatoes, oranges, apples and bread within the first 35 minutes!

Totaled, we gave away 89 bags, and served 295 people – a record number of people for the day.

Unfortunately that meant that the 19 people who came after the chickens were gone only received a bag of groceries, and we were concerned because the line kept forming. We thought we would run out of food!

In December, because of the calendar, we are doing three giveaways. The first is Dec. 3. If you can spread the word about donations, anything would be helpful to offset the costs for fruit and produce. Money, additional food, cereal, pasta, sauces and tuna are always on the list of needs.

I do want to especially thank the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church deacons for the chickens, Pastor Wanda for picking up the fruit, and a major thank you to Joanie Holt at Kelseyville High School, Jennifer Mandeville at Riviera Elementary and the Boy Scouts for the canned food drives.

We estimate, without the extras, that the food comes to about $35 a bag … with fruits and veggies, you all know the costs.

My thanks to Toni Brown and the staff and students at Kelseyville Elementary, who collected 146 pairs of adorable socks for the Socks from Santa drive. We will distribute those on Dec. 17.

The high school, Westamerica Bank and Rotary are still collecting socks, and I get donations every day in my office. All I had to do was ask and the teachers and the staff at the Kelseyville schools took care of the rest. Many thanks!

I wish you could have heard the comments and seen the faces of our guests Tuesday. As one person put it, “They came in sad and came out with big smiles.”

Many told me that if it wasn't for our food giveaway yesterday, they would have no Thanksgiving. I am grateful to everyone for their contributions to keep us going, from a pair of socks to Sutter Lakeside for their $5,000 check.

All of us at the Kelseyville Food Pantry are grateful for the people of Lake County who support our efforts.

Thanks from the bottom of our hearts.

Julie Berry writes on behalf of the Kelseyville Food Pantry in Kelseyville, Calif.