All of the applications are in for Operation Family Christmas, said Jes Rodne, the chief organizer for 2017, and the need throughout the county for assistance is once again significant.
Forty-five families have signed up to receive Christmas gift purchases for their children ages 0-18. That represents about 100 children whose Christmas will be made even more special if they have some Christmas gifts waiting for them to open.
Rodne said Christmas trees at the North Shore Federal Credit Union in Grand Marais and Lutsen each have tags on them with gift ideas. If you would like to take part, take a tag and purchase the gift assigned to the tag and then return the present (with the tag attached) to the location you picked the tag up from.
All presents must be returned to either Lutsen or Grand Marais by December 18, said Rodne.
In the past, said Rodne, she would have presents delivered to the houses of the recipients of the gifts. This year recipients must come to the Cook County Community Center either on December 20 or December 22 to pick up their presents. Check for hours of operation for those two dates.
Another change, said Rodne, is this year the Salvation Army is unable to purchase gift certificates from Johnson’s grocery store to give to each family. “The Salvation Army has been great, but they spent their funding this year and can’t help with our purchase of gift certificates for groceries. If people who buy presents are able, it would be great if they could add a grocery gift card to their purchase as well.”
If you are out of town and want to help donate to Kids Plus – Operation Family Christmas, P.O. Box 63 ( 501c3) Grand Marais, Mn 55604.
If you need further information, call Jess at 218-370- 9813.
Leave a Reply