The 2013 Akwesasne Basket Drive and Mountain of Toys

Once again the Akwesasne Basket Drive and Mountain of Toys had another successful year, with Sarah Konwahahawi Herne being the new director. Fundraising including a breakfast and lunch served by the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino and community members were bailed out of a “jail” with donations from friends and family. “Elvis” TJ Jackson entertained the crowd while a silent auction was held. Baskets of food, a $20 gift card and a toy for each child were distributed by Dec. 18th.

What It Takes

Just what does it take to provide community members with a basket of food for the holiday season and a toy for Christmas? It takes a lot. A whole bunch of volunteers, a huge amount of food and lots and lots of toys. To put this in perspective; two large crates of apples (each pallet size crate holds 22 bushels of apples, approximately 2520 apples), one and half pallets of oranges, one and a half pallets of carrots, two and half pallets of potatoes, one and half pallets of onions and 4000 cans of peas and cranberries (what’s a holiday meal without cranberries!) A pallet of carrots is packed in 50 pound bags, each bag will contain 42 bags for a total of 840 per full pallet totaling 42, 000 net weight pounds. That is a lot of carrots. These veggies and fruits have to be broken down and repackaged into small bags suitable for families, for instance it took volunteers 6 hours to repackage 2 large pallet size crates of apples.

Much of this was donated by community businesses; the Akwesasne Convenience Store Association (Paul Tatlock and Mark Benedict) donated all apples, oranges, onions and potatoes. The Akwesasne Mohawk Casino donated the breakfast and lunch and had to transport the food, drinks, plates, cups, take out containers and more to the former IGA building. All of the logistics of this tremendous undertaking were organized by Liz D. Twin Leaf catered breakfast, lunch and dinner for all volunteers for all seven days, Indian Time and CKON donated ads in the paper and on-air. Jacobs’ Family businesses donated thousands of dollars, literally to bail out family members in “jail”. Jimmy “McDuck” McDonald of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe was there to open and close the building and to turn on lights, (“no turn on those lights, no these lights, no turn on those lights over there” Thanks for your patience). Swamps Performance once again held their Brakes for Kids and donated a huge number of toys for this event. Braves Manufacturing made a large donation to the cause. Tarbell Management Group sold $1 and $5 donations at their locations with the incentive of winning an iPad. Junior and Tracy David donated a large truck acting as Santa’s Sleigh for moving toys! Once again, Carey Terrance donated over one thousand boxes for the baskets of food. His commitment and kindness does not go unnoticed. MCA and MCA employees made donations throughout the year by payroll deductions. Community contributions make the Akwesasne Basket Drive a success every year through collaboration and commitment by many organizations within Akwesasne. Also, the Malone Wal-Mart Staff were extremely dedicated to ensuring that Akwesasne children had toys this Christmas and treated Basket Drive Volunteers with great respect during the hectic shopping trips!

All of this wouldn’t be possible without the human element – volunteers. Here is a list of volunteers; if you volunteered and your name is not listed it isn’t intentional and we sincerely apologize; Carson Mitchell, Taylor Barnes, ABGC Staff, Mike Markham, Shae Terrance, Karonhiahawi, Kanakwinetha, Asien, Watenatiiostha, Chris Herne, Harvey, TJ Jackson, Kenkiokwine Barnes, Melissa Connors-Chamberlain, Moochie McDonald, Nikaiataa Skidders, Tharonhianente, Takieh Hall, Retha Herne, Emily Lauzon, Pudgie King and Akwesasne 4H, Margie Skidders, Teio Skidders, Leona Barnes, Arisawe Lazore, Bear Bear Laughing, Tee Laughing, Trish Ransom, Aaron Terrance, PJ Burns, Stacy Adams Skidders, Laurie Dumas, Jeremy Thompson, Jenny Boots, Bernadine Boots, Jessica Sargent, Lacey Herne, Courtney King, Eugene King Jr, Brenda Hathaway, Jackie Hall, Annie Cree, Lyn Thomas, Partridge House Staff, Cynthia Lord, Tsionatiio Laughing, Wanda Thompson, Richard Billings, Shereese Thomas, Salmon River Hockey Team, Will Laughing, Ray Herne, Jenna Herne, Sesi Herne, Ienonkwahawis, Kahetahawi, Amber Montour, Atonhwa Herne, Wayne Herne, Dawn Cree, David Cree, Shannon Cree, Frank Laughing, Ryan Bero, Stacey Huff, Leann Neff, Joe and Bulla Herne, Amie Barnes, Mel Back, Akwesasne Group Home Staff, Arlene Jock, Peggy David, Tawit, Jena Hall, Carolyn White, Brounetta Terrance, Winter Eagle Terrance, Mark Benedict, Terry Leman, Sara Razis-Judware, Faith Thompson, Noonie Thomas and Family, and the staff of Wal-Mart in Malone!