Local humanitarian group brings holiday cheer

The Tehachapi Humanitarian Relief Group was formed during the current COVID-19 pandemic to fill a need for food distribution and other services for Tehachapi's under-served. The group networks almost entirely through Social Media and were very active during the Christmas holiday.

The group teamed up with Michelle Wattenbarger of the American Legion and the Coffee Mill to provide an angel tree. The Legion itself sponsored 20 families. A Google form was set up for families to sign up and the tree was placed in the Coffee Mill. Over $800 in donations were received. Miss United States Tiffany Rea rallied the Tehachapi Queens and Princesses and did the shopping, purchasing 308 gifts to go to 60 families. Tiffany's mother Debbie Rea and Vicki Hoffman helped with the monumental job of wrapping all the gifts.

Members of Tehachapi Humanitarian Relief with the help of David and Cynthia Hernandez of American Legion Post 221 delivered the gifts on December 23 and 24 including about 50 of the 196 food boxes collected by Tehachapi Rotary in their 12 Days of Christmas food box drive. In turn, Tehachapi Humanitarian Relief Group members assisted Rotary with the delivery of their boxes. Deliveries were made all the way from Sand Canyon to Stallion Springs.

"If you ask this community to step up, they show up," said Justina Engen of the THRG. "I am overwhelmed at the generosity of our community and this group."