'Without the angst of hunger'

In 1980, Karen Everett was a substitute teacher at Pioneer School when her husband died, leaving her to raise their two children ages 3 and 9.

Pioneer students conducted a food drive for Everett for the three and staff gave her money to help her through the tough times.

"I'm sure it changed us forever," Everett said. "Pioneer School became like a family."

She added, "It was unheard of to have so much generosity shown to someone who wasn't really a full staff member."

Everett became a full-time staff member the next fall and the school's Christmas Giving Project continues. On Thursday, the now 77-year-old Everett was greeting recipients as she and other volunteers distributed food, clothes, books, toys and gift cards to 75 families, which include about 200 children. Her daughter, Lori Watkins, is now a counselor at the school.

Everett said she wanted to give back to the community and ran the Christmas Giving Project by herself for a few years, with about six to eight families benefitting.

Local churches were the first organizations to join the effort by donating fresh meat and vegetables. The teachers and other staff members then jumped onboard. These days, the Pioneer Kiwanis Club donates hams, potatoes and fresh fruit and the Agate Store provides each family with milk, eggs and bread. Shelton Cinemas donates movie tickets and refreshments.

On Thursdays, tables were heaped with potatoes, apples, breakfast cereal, juice and other foods. The free offerings included two tables of stuffed animals and tables devoted to clothes and books. Most clients drove up to the door of the school and volunteers brought out the donations on carts. Some clients came in to browse the tables.

The volunteers used to hand out turkeys before they realized many of the recipients don't have ovens, Everett said. Now they give out fully-baked hams.

In the early years of the program, Everett asked teachers to give her names of students whose families needed help. Then invitations were sent out to all parents. "We didn't want to miss anyone," she said.

Everett said she grew up in poverty. "I think if you come from a poor background, it makes you more passionate to help others," she said.

Everett said she's grateful to Pioneer Schools for hosting the program at the school. This year, the program received a $5,000 check from a Colorado resident, she said.

On Thursday, Everett watched as a little girl gleefully picked out a dollhouse, "all smiles and eyes." She watched as Shelton High School cheerleaders and other volunteers filled boxes and carts with food and rolled them out to awaiting people.

"It gets them through the holidays without the angst of hunger," she said.