LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — End of year generosity brought joy to many of Lake County’s most isolated seniors.

Reusable cloth bags stuffed high with gifts provided by the Sutter Lakeside Hospital and Kelseyville Rotary Club were delivered this year to isolated seniors throughout the county.

Additionally, the Meals on Wheels drivers, who made the deliveries, received a cash gift from the Lake County Silver Foundation.

The gift bags are the brainchild of Cathleen Mondfrans, a Sutter Lakeside Emergency Department nurse.

Since learning about the Silver Foundation at a Kelseyville Rotary Club meeting four years ago,

Mondfrans has organized a holiday gift bag drive at Sutter Lakeside Hospital for Lake County’s most isolated seniors.

Mondfrans explained that this year, Sutter Lakeside employees and the Kelseyville Rotary Club members raised $1,000 toward the purchase of gifts.

The Rotary members stuffed 50 bags. An additional 26 bags were stuffed by individual hospital staff from various departments including the emergency room, outpatient care services, laboratory and radiology.

“I am amazed and thankful for the combined generosity of our Hospital staff and members of the Kelseyville Rotary Club,” Mondfrans said.

The Silver Foundation, a local nonprofit that advocates for seniors, provides the bags and coordinates delivery through the local senior centers. Ultimately, it is the Meals on Wheels drivers that ensure delivery to isolated seniors.

“Because the COVID pandemic posed significant risk to seniors our Board of Directors decided not to host the Annual Senior Summit event in 2020 and 2021,” said Silver Foundation President Jim Steele. “We had several hundred bags pre-purchased for these events. Thanks to the good folks at Sutter Lakeside and the Kelseyville Rotary Club, the bags are going to good use.”

The bags were stuffed full of everything from blankets, robes, mittens and beanie hats to toiletries, snacks and other goodies.

Steele went on to explain that last year the foundation gave $50 gift cards to the drivers who deliver meals throughout Lake County all year long. This year, the foundation board authorized $100 for each of the regular drivers.

“Especially throughout the pandemic the individuals who deliver meals, and check in on seniors, have made heroic efforts to make sure isolated seniors are not forgotten. They deserve our thanks for their extraordinary service,” Steele said.

“I don’t know what we would do without our drivers,” said Lori Tourville, who manages the Middletown Senior Center. “Meals on Wheels drivers are an important link to seniors — many of whom live in relative isolation,” she said. “They deserve to be recognized and supported, we want to thank the Sutter Lakeside Hospital, the Kelseyville Rotary Club and the Silver Foundation.”

The Silver Foundation is supported by organizations and individuals including Calpine, the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, Robinson Rancheria Resort and Casino, the Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Business Association, the Law Offices of Mary Heare Amodio, Konocti Computers, Benmore Valley Ranch Project, Sam Euston Productions, Jackie Riche and Carol and Steve Schepper.

The special project, “Help a Senior Save a Pet” continues to provide financial assistance to low- and fixed-income seniors with their pet care needs from funds donated specifically for that purpose by 100+ Women Strong.

A new memorial fund, established in honor of inaugural Silver Foundation Board member, Gene Paleno, has begun receiving donations from individuals.

For more information about the memorial fund and the Silver Foundation, visit the website at www.lakecountysilverfoundation.com or contact Jim Steele at 707-295-6198.