To the editor:

I want to share my appreciation for Dr. William Robertson of Samaritan Orthopedics in Lebanon.

He surprised his staff on his 66th birthday with a check for $1,000 and a request to pick a charity to send it to.

This gift truly couldn't have come at a better time. The clinic staff was extremely excited and appreciative of his gift. We all decided that FISH of Lebanon, a local nonprofit focused on providing emergency food, clothing and utility assistance, was going to be the recipient of this generous contribution.

Dr. Robertson's surprise came several weeks before a local article ran in the Albany Democrat-Herald highlighting the high need for food this holiday season and a supply too low to meet the increased demands.

According to the article, a record 10,132 Linn County individuals received food from emergency food boxes in October, compared to 7,480 the same month in 2007, a 35 percent increase.

Our hope is that this contribution will provide some relief and benefit those in need in our community.

Kim Vaughan

Clinic manager