Hollister
– On Wednesday evening, things looked grim for the inaugural
Holte Memorial Dinner. Organizers had yet to receive a single
turkey, to say nothing of the side dishes, dessert, utensils and
volunteers that feeding hundreds of people on Thanksgiving would
require. But that all changed on Thursday mor
ning.
Hollister – On Wednesday evening, things looked grim for the inaugural Holte Memorial Dinner. Organizers had yet to receive a single turkey, to say nothing of the side dishes, dessert, utensils and volunteers that feeding hundreds of people on Thanksgiving would require. But that all changed on Thursday morning.
“I hadn’t even had my first cup of coffee when the phone rang,” said Pat Richardson, a member of the dinner’s organizing committee.
That call, the first of many, came from State Senator Jeff Denham’s office; they’d heard about the organizers’ dilemma and wanted to help. Richardson received phone calls throughout the day, all from people who’d read about the shortage in the Free Lance and wanted to donate food, money or time. The calls were so constant, Richardson said, that she wasn’t able to eat dinner until 9pm.
“I had to take my phone off the hook to take a shower,” she said.
According to Richardson, the biggest donors include Denham and Saint Louise Regional Hospital, with 20 turkeys each, as well as the Hollister’s Lions Club with 10 turkeys. Additional individuals have donated one or two turkeys.
Ted Fox, CEO of Saint Louise Regional Hospital in Gilroy, said his family normally donates turkeys to the event. But this year, he didn’t know whom to contact. Once Fox saw Richardson’s name and number in the newspaper, he gave her a call, learned the extent of the need and arranged for the donation of 20 turkeys.
“It’s a really neat thing that’s been going on for so many years,” said Fox, a Hollister resident. “We’re happy to help out so that folks can continue it in the future.”
He added that the hospital will consider donating turkeys for subsequent holiday dinners as well.
Marley Holte’s holiday dinners for the needy are a 20-year local tradition. Every year, some 100 volunteers feed more than 500 people on Thanksgiving and Christmas out of the Sacred Heart gym. Holte passed away this September, but family and friends said they would continue the tradition in his memory.
With Holte gone, however, the event hit some roadblocks – namely, the shortage of food and volunteers. Normally, Assemblyman Simon Salinas’ office donates turkeys, but this year, according to Richardson, “They just forgot about us.”
Richardson added that many people didn’t realize the dinners were continuing.
“With Marley’s passing, people just thought it wasn’t going to go on,” she said.
Denham’s press secretary Stacey Hendrickson said that when the Free Lance notified her on Wednesday about the shortage, she contacted the senator’s field representative in Salinas, who in turn contacted the California Water Service Company. Every year, the company donates turkeys to those in need on behalf of a number of individuals and organizations. This year, 20 of those turkeys will go to the memorial dinner on Denham’s behalf.
“Senator Denham saw that there was a need in the community, and he wanted to assist as best he could,” Hendrickson said.
With the outpouring of community support, Richardson said the memorial dinner now has enough food for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. The only thing they’re short on is volunteers. There are regular volunteers who show up every year, Richardson said, but she estimated that this Thanksgiving, they’ll need at least 50 more than their current numbers.
Still, Richardson said she’s been astonished by the community’s support.
“I’m grateful to the community for stepping up,” she said.
To volunteer or donate to the Holte Memorial Dinner, call Pat Richardson at (831) 637-0566.
Anthony Ha covers local government for the Free Lance. Reach him at (831) 637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
