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Santa’s Helper: Local woman gives out donated items

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As a child, Bernie Lovell didn’t get many gifts during the holiday season. Lovell, the fifth child out of a family of 12, remembers all of the money from her father’s two jobs going towards Christmas dinner. So now as a grandmother of hundreds of grandchildren, some by blood but most “adopted,” Lovell has made it a mission in her life to help provide gifts for those without.

“If the good Lord could help me, then I could help others,” Lovell recalled as she sat in her home, almost every inch of wall space filled with the smiling photos of her grandchildren, friends and family.

And Lovell has been helping the community of St. Ignatius for more than 20 years. Two weeks ago, a semi-truck arrived in front of her home, filled with new and used clothing, household items and toys. All the items are free to area families and individuals. The donations come from First Nations Ministries in Portland, Ore. Two sheds on Lovell’s property are packed with these items, and she keeps them open at all hours of the day. She doesn’t mind if people stop by and look through the sheds, taking what they need, as long as they leave it looking how it was.

Lovell estimates the donated items have benefited around 200 families from near and far. She met a man from Arizona who was kicked out of his home and was living with his brother in St. Ignatius. His 9-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son traveled up with him, and he was worried about being able to buy them gifts for Christmas.

“He said he didn’t have any money to buy Christmas gifts for them,” Lovell said. “And I told him, ‘Well, now you do.’”

Most of the toys were gone on Dec. 22, a few days before Christmas, but Lovell said there are plenty of clothes, shoes and books available in the sheds.

Lovell noted the help of several volunteers that help her unload and sort through the hundreds of items. Children from the Pine Haven Christian Children’s Ranch have helped on several occasions, as have Lovell’s grandchildren.

“I’d rather be helping than sitting around,” said grandson, Louis Gainan. “There needs to be more places like this.”

“I just like to help the community,” said helper Cameron Bartell. “When she decides to pass it on, I’ll do the same.”

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