Caltrans Employees’ Donations Lift Spirits

Marysville, Ca.

Caltrans staff members Lori Mcintosh, left,
and Larry Chiea roll in a barrel full of food
for the department's annual Give-A-Yam charity
weigh-in. (Caltrans photo)

They loaded barrells with canned foods and stuffed carts with dolls, games and other toys. And they raised money through food sales, candy grams and gift baskets throughout the year.

By December, hundreds of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) District 3 employees provided more than $20,300 in cash donations and 3,700 pounds of food for local charities throughout the Sacramento and the Sacramento Valley regions as well as the Yuba-Sutter Chapter of the Salvation Army.

Moreover, employees for the 15th consecutive year donated more than 300 gifts ranging from Matchbox cars to My Sweet Love doll chairs for the annual Christmas Angel Tree Program for needy children.
Caltrans is the largest corporate donor to the Yuba-Sutter Salvation Army's annual holiday fund-raising campaign, playing a crucial role in helping the organization achieve its holiday fund-raising goal. This year, Caltrans employees donated $10,640 and 818 pounds of food to the local chapter. The money goes toward the chapter's holiday program to distribute gifts and food boxes for holiday meals to dozens of families in Yuba and Sutter counties.

Caltrans Deputy District Director of Planning and Local Assistance Marlon Flournoy and North Region Construction Division Chief John Rodrigues, co-chairs of the annual "Give- A-Yam" holiday drive, said employees once again demonstrated their strong giving spirit. "Our Caltrans employees really opened their hearts this year and stepped up to help those that are less fortunate. Their generous gifts and donations will help make a difference to those suffering hardships this holiday season."

For Caltrans employees such as Larry Chiea, the fund-raising activities are all about giving back to the community. "It’s giving that makes the holiday season special and the knowledge that our donations can make a difference.”

Caltrans District 3 maintains more than 4,385 lanes miles of state highway in 11 Sacramento Valley and Northern Sierra counties: Butte, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sierra, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba. More information about Caltrans is available on its website at www.dot.ca.gov.