As the deadline to donate gifts to Operation Family Christmas nears, organizers are a bit concerned. The number of children needing gifts is greater this year and to date there are fewer donations. Community members are encouraged to help Operation Family Christmas reach its goal of seeing that every child has a happy holiday.
Operation Family Christmas boxes will be collected on December 16 and families will be able to pick up the gifts on December 21.
This is the third year that Operation Family Christmas has collected toys to make Christmas brighter for local families and once again Anna Sandstrom, Lindsay Mielke, Samantha Wallner and Andrea Everson spearheaded the effort. The Bethlehem Lutheran Church confirmation students also provide assistance.
“They have no idea who is getting presents or where the presents are going, but they help select and box toys based on age ranges and they also make treats. They are a huge help,” Everson said.
Community members can drop off unwrapped toys and gifts for kids 0-18 years at special Operation Family Christmas boxes at Buck’s Hardware, Joynes Ben Franklin, the North Shore Federal Credit Union in Grand Marais and Lutsen, the Cook County Community Center and the Cook County Sheriff ’s Office.
If Operation Family Christmas is short on toys, organizers will purchase them. If you would like to contribute toward toy purchases, checks could be sent to: Andrea Everson at P.O. Box 1260, Grand Marais, MN 55604.
The Operation Family Christmas donation boxes will be available until 3 p.m. on December 16. Consider buying a toy to help fill the box and brighten a family’s Christmas!
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