CLEARLAKE — Tote bags filled to capacity with sweatshirts, socks, personal hygiene supplies, blankets, stuffed animals, school supplies and other items will be delivered to children in Juvenile Hall Christmas morning thanks to the success of the Joshua Project.
Project founder Jeri Spittler was elated Thursday as she looked at the gifts filling the lobby of her beauty salon. “It is really a love offering. There are 90 bags here. It takes about $130 to $150 to fill each of them and they are overflowing,” she said. “And these are from people in this community who walk through this door and open their hearts to help our children.”
The Joshua Project, named in memory of Spittler”s late son, focuses on an age group that Spittler thinks is often overlooked during the holidays and children in juvenile hall she says, are often overlooked even more so. “The same kids in juvenile hall, the same kids on probation are going to be the same kids growing up and living next door to us,” she said. “Now is the time to reach them and let them know that there are people in this community who really care about them.”
Spittler has been contributing for many years. At one point, she and her friends were stuffing hundreds of stockings each year for the less fortunate children of the area. In 2002, she said she realized that there was an age group that was being overlooked. “We were stuffing stockings for our local children and we realized that teens, 13 to 17 were forgotten,” she said. “Then in 2004 it was brought to my attention that children in juvenile hall and probation are greatly underserved so the Joshua Project turned its focus to them.”
Spittler said she is impressed that the bags were filled by caring people and organizations in the community and not corporate sponsors. “A lot of people helped. Queen of Peace took 13, Iron Pigs took seven, Park Study Club filled four and Becky Whitmire, who is just regular Clearlake citizen, filled 10 bags alone. She was just overjoyed at the whole experience,” Spittler said. “Griffin”s Furniture is always very generous. Dan filled four bags this year. There were so many giving people this year I can”t begin to name them all. This is the best it”s ever looked!”
Spittler said that Shelly Wright of the Lake County Probation Department has been instrumental in the Joshua Project for many years.
Iron Pigs Motorcycle Club members Tim Celli and Richard Moore helped Wright pick up the gifts on Thursday. It took two vehicles to hold all the bags. “This is wonderful. I think what happens, a lot of the teenagers get neglected and I think this program is our chance to really capture those kids,” Wright said.
Anyone wishing to contribute to the Joshua Project in the future may contact Jeri Spittler at Girlfriend”s beauty and fitness center at 994-6303.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
