A group of Totes4Teens volunteers pauses before loading the Bekins truck with Mark Hollingsworth for agency deliveries. Totes4Teens rebounded from the Valley Fire and collected hand knitted caps, scarves and other items in only seven weeks, completing their 12th year in operation. Almost 70 volunteers assisted in sorting, packing and wrapping the items. All of the knitted items the group had originally collected for Christmas distribution were lost in the fire. To replace them, Sharon McQueen contributed 253 scarves, Gayle Bala added 232 and others worked to fill the gap. There were also many donated from the Kelseyville Stitch and Give group, Hank Kistner, Mona Danielsson-Kolling, Judy Mullens of Soroptomist and the HVL Craft Club. Added to this were at least 85 fleece blankets from Clearlake Soroptomist and pillowcases from Janet Folk, Wende Bohlke, Christine Goddard and the HVL Northshore ladies. ‘It is our 12th year and to have been able to complete this donation, to us on the committee anyway, is just one more incidence of the strength so many had to make it happen from such adverse circumstances,’ Cheri Johnson said. – Contributed Photo
