Worker saves leftover Oregon Lottery money to help others

“This was the payoff,” Markham said. “Scott’s effort resulted in some families receiving a great Christmas…I feel blessed to have met Scott. He’s a humble guy with others on his mind, just trying to make a difference.”

Markham said he noticed that this initial experience made Blair all the more eager to put together a donation for next year.

“When I turned in the money, I said I’d like to set a goal for $500 for this year,” Blair said. “But at the rate we’re going right now, it’s going to go way past that.”

He said he’s amazed at how many people have come on board. Lately, on his days off, the other Geppetto’s employees are collecting the lottery slips for the project. “Now that everybody’s on board, we aren’t doing like $6 or $7 a week,” he said. “Last week we did $22.”

And he said he knows of three other local bars that are also collecting for the Christmas project.

“We could help out a lot of kids for next year,” Blair said.

Just before Christmas 2022, Hoy shared Blair’s story on Facebook, bringing a larger audience to the effort.

Rounsaville spoke with Salem Kroc Center Corps Officer Captain Quinton Markham, who headed to Geppetto’s Dec. 22 to receive the donation, unbeknownst to Blair, who thought Hoy had called him in to help with a special project.

“When Scott realized why we were there, he became a little emotional,” Markham said. “He didn’t want the donation to be about him. He wanted it to be about the children and families that were going to be helped with the donation.”

While there, Markham mentioned that he was next heading to The Salvation Army’s Toy ‘n Joy distribution center, where staff were assisting more than 1,100 local families with new toys and a food box.

Scott’s effort resulted in some families receiving a great Christmas…I feel blessed to have met Scott.

—MAJOR QUINTON MARKHAM

“It’s really gone crazy…I’m shocked by how much people have responded to it,” Blair said. “I would never have thought for one second that it would have gone as big as it has.”

The Facebook post seemed to warm people’s hearts with the Christmas spirit. When the Oregon Lottery found out about it, they asked if they could share it on their Facebook page. As of Jan. 27, the shared post has received about 1,300 positive reactions, more than 100 shares and dozens of comments. Blair said he reads every one.

“I’m not really a social media person,” he said. “So when Julie asked me if she could put it on the Facebook page, I said, ‘Well, I guess so.’ I had no idea that it would generate so much response. It’s just been overwhelm-