“This year Operation Family Christmas was another huge success,” said third-year coordinator Jes Rodne.
Through the program, “113 kids experienced the magic that comes on Christmas morning,” she said.
Operation Family Christmas was established to assist parents or guardians who may not be able to buy Christmas presents for their children ages 0-18.
The program works this way. The North Shore Federal Credit Union branches and the Grand Marais State banks host Christmas trees in their lobbies with “ornaments” on them.
All of the ornaments display the ages, gender and some ideas of what a child’s wishes are for Christmas presents. Members of the public take an ornament (or more than one) and purchase gifts listed on the tags, then bring the presents back to a designated location to be given to the parents who otherwise might not be able to give their children anything for Christmas.
Arrowhead Electric also does a yearly mitten tree and donates to Operation Family Christmas (OFC), said Rodne, “to ensure everyone is toasty warm with hats and mittens.”
The Spirit of Wilderness Church gave food cards to 65 seniors through the Good Samaritan Fund with each senior receiving $60 from Spirit of The Wilderness in grocery store gift cards.
The Food Shelf also donated, and the Snacks and Packs program were given Ruby’s gift certificates in December before Christmas.
Then too, Ruby’s Pantry donated a share per a family, and “we also have generous donations of grocery and gas cards along with monetary donations,” added Rodne.
“It is impossible for me to thank every person involved,” she said. “But I want you to know each, and every one is so very vital in making this program one that helps so many people in need and truly makes the difference for not only the children of our community but also for their families.
“We had some very generous donations to be able to provide this. I am once again so amazed at the outpouring of love and generosity from the members of this committee along with people outside of Cook County.
“I once again find it hard to put into words how much I love being a part of this program! I feel so blessed to be the organizer, which gives me the opportunity to see the joy in the faces of families that have struggled. It is an experience each year that reminds me of the true greatness in humanity,” Rodne said.
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