District: District 3 - Marysville
Contact: Gilbert Mohtes-Chan
Phone: (530) 741-4571; (530) 682-6145
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Marysville – Large barrels loaded with canned foods and carts brimming with printed t-shirts, dolls, games and bicycles rolled out onto a loading dock, ready for delivery to families in need.
Once again, hundreds of Caltrans District 3 employees have stepped up this holiday season to give $9,005 and 9,545 pounds of food to the Yuba-Sutter Food Bank, Yuba-Sutter Chapter of the Salvation Army and other charities throughout the region.
In addition, employees for the 19th consecutive year donated more than 250 holiday gifts for the annual Christmas Angel Tree Program for needy children.
Caltrans North Region Right of Way Chief John Ballantyne, co-chair of the annual "Give-A-Yam" holiday drive, lauded employees for their continued generosity. “Our employees really opened their hearts this year and stepped up to help those that are less fortunate during the holidays and throughout the year,” he said. “Their generous gifts and donations will help make a difference to those suffering hardships in the community."
Major Julius Murphy of the Yuba-Sutter Salvation Army said the local chapter this season will distribute food boxes for holiday meals to about 425 families, which includes about 850 children. The Salvation Army also gives gifts to about 1,000 homebound seniors in the region.
“The community we have is very generous,” Murphy said. “Caltrans continues to be our top supporter and donor, not just at Christmastime.”
This year, for example, a Caltrans employee donated 66 dozen eggs to feed the hungry throughout the year.
Murphy pointed out the year-round support is invaluable because of the chapter’s expansion of services, which includes taking over the 14 Forward shelter and the opening of eight new transitional homes. “We’ve doubled our outreach to the homeless community,” he said.
Throughout the year, Caltrans employees conduct a series of fund-raising events for their "Give- A-Yam" campaign. Over the past 11 years, employees have donated a total of $165,800 to local charities.
“Caltrans is part of the community. All the employees get into the Give-A-Yam fund-raisers,” said Brian Goldman, who works in the Caltrans Right of Way unit. “We enjoy giving back to the community.”
This year, the Right of Way employees also donated 9,100 pounds of food to the Oroville Rescue Mission. “”All the food to the mission was going to the Camp Fire victims,” Goldman said.
Caltrans District 3 is responsible for maintaining and operating 4,385 lane miles in 11 Sacramento Valley and Northern Sierra counties. For project updates, follow Caltrans District 3 on Twitter @CaltransDist3 and on Facebook at CaltransDistrict3. For real-time traffic, click on Caltrans’ QuickMap or download the QuickMap app from the App Store or Google Play.
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