For the past 17 years, Van Sandt has chaired the Kachemak Bay Lions' Thanksgiving basket program committee. This year, with the help of co-chair Amy Shoemaker, Van Sandt is back at it, inviting the entire community to join the Lions in carrying on the tradition.

When Van Sandt mentioned her idea to a woman recently, the woman was immediately inspired to open her purse and pull out $5 for the program.

"She said, 'here you go.' It would be nice to get that response city-wide," Van Sandt said.

New this year, also, is an adopt-a-family option, with donors invited to make their own baskets brimming with all the traditional fixings for stomach-filling meals.

Over the years Van Sandt has been involved in the program, she has seen what meaning it holds for others.

"People are so grateful. This year already the strangest thing is that I've got several applications that have 'thank you' written on them," Van Sandt said of handwritten notes of appreciation.

Then there are the smiling faces of families volunteering their Saturday before Thanksgiving to help the Lions assemble baskets. In 2007, three young brothers Jacob, Cole and Jonah Socha were greeted with a spontaneous round of applause from volunteers when the boys and their father walked into the assembly area, each boy carrying a turkey. Inspired by the appreciation, the family turned around, went back to the grocery store and purchased two more turkeys for the basket-making.

In 2008, the Lions assembled 120 baskets of food for families and individuals finding their pockets and their cupboards empty. This year, Van Sandt is anticipating the economy likely will take its toll on pocketbooks, making it even more important for those who can, to share.

The committee begins working in August, when the first orders are placed for turkeys.

After that comes Van Sandt's letters to the editor, inviting the community to participate.

Applications are distributed be.ginning the first Monday in November.

"I get permission from Wells Fargo to put the applications in their foyer," said Van Sandt of the need-based program.

Donations of financial support and food are accepted right up until the morning the baskets are assembled.

A crosscheck with the Salvation Army and the American Legion in Anchor Point, who also have food programs,ensures there is no doubling up of names and everyone in need is helped.

After this many years, some names on applications have become familiar to Van Sandt.

"But this year there are some new ones," she said. "It's going to be a hard year for people."

Families get first preference, with baskets made in varying sizes to accommodate small and large groupings.

If donations allow, singles also are included in the program.

"If I am able, I try to help the singles with at least a box of food," Van Sandt said. "Last year we were very fortunate and were able to give each one of the singles a game hen. It's unfortunate we can't give more, but that's the way you have to do it."

In addition to turkeys, items in the baskets include such things as potatoes, yams, cranberry sauce, other vegetables and fruits, stuffing, pumpkin pie ingredients, flour and sugar. They might also include Jell-O, Cool Whip, pie shells or "anything that will enhance their lives," Van Sandt said.

"And I always try to buy packages of noodles because it stretches turkey so you can make it into soup," she added, thinking of meal possibilities beyond Thanksgiving.

From her observations, others think like she does.

"A lot of times, people clean out their cupboards. We get (donations) like macaroni and cheese and then we'll do bigger baskets," she said.

Come 9 a.m. the Saturday before Thanksgiving, Home Senior Citizen's Friendship Center is transformed into a beehive of activity as yellow-vested Lions and volunteers from the community form assembly lines and get to work before recipients arrive later in the day to pick up their baskets.

"My grandson has done this every year since he was five or younger," Van Sandt said of what, for her, is a family tradition. "This year he's having a fit because he has to work that Saturday."

It is a tradition that, over the years, has held increasing meaning for Van Sandt.

"Growing up, our house always seemed to have someone staying there. If you needed a roof over your head, there it was. Now, my daughter looks at me and says, 'Well, this is just what we do,'" Van Sant said.

In 2004, when her Skyline home and everything in it was destroyed by fire, Van Sand found herself on the other end of things.

"I've had so much given to me over my lifetime," she said. "I'll never be able to give it all back. You can't. You just go forward."

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky.@homernews.com.

INFO BOX:

Kachemak Bay Lions' Thanksgiving Basket Program

Applications available in the foyer of Wells Fargo Bank until Nov. 18.

Baskets assembled at Homer Senior Citizen's Friendship Center, 9 a.m. Nov. 21.

Donations of turkeys and other food items will be accepted that morning.

Baskets will be ready for pick-up the afternoon of Nov. 21.

Monetary donations may be mailed to Kachemak Bay Lions, P.O. Box 1824, Homer, AK 99603

For more information, call Fran Van Sandt, 235-8761.