Eager workers with big smiles, the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Confirmation students helped last year with Operation Family Christmas.
“Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.” Henry James (1834- 1916).
It won’t be too long before collection boxes for Operation Family Christmas begin showing up in local stores, said one of the Operation Family Christmas organizers, Andrea Everson.
“We want to make sure no kid in the county goes without a Christmas present,” Everson said.
In its third year, Operation Family Christmas (OFC) will hand out collection boxes to businesses that are willing to participate. There will also be a collection box at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, local headquarters for OFC.
Everson is asking for donations of, “new, unwrapped gifts for kids up to 18 years old.”
But, she added, “If someone doesn’t know what to buy and wants to donate, we will accept checks or gift cards and I will send a receipt. In fact, it might be easier to give a gift card for someone older. They can be harder to shop for.”
Confidentiality is important, said Everson. “No one knows who is getting presents. Parents (or legal guardians) can pick up applications beginning November 13 at the Cook County Law Enforcement Center or at the Violence Prevention Center or through Anna Sandstrom at the school,” she said.
All applicants must be Cook County residents and all applications must be in by December 10.
In cases of divorce, both mother and father can pick up applications. “We don’t want to see one parent giving a present and one parent not being able to give a present,” said Everson.
Operation Family Christmas boxes will be collected on December 16 and distributed on December 21. Last year there was a surplus of gifts and if that happens again this year parents who go to the food shelf on December 22-23 can take those presents home to their children.
Everson is encouraging businesses to take part. “Last year the owners of The Pie Place were a huge, huge, huge help,” she said.
Gifts don’t have to be toys. They can be hats, gloves, shirts, clothes, Everson said. “Some people gave us Sven & Ole or Dairy Queen gift cards. These are great to give to high school kids who might get to leave campus for lunch,” she said.
Once again Anna Sandstrom, Lindsay Mielke and Samantha Wallner are working with Everson to make this project work. The Confirmation students at Bethlehem Lutheran also assist them.
“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.
One change from last year is that parents will have to pick up presents at certain locations in the West End, East End and in Grand Marais. No presents will be dropped off at houses this year. Parents will be notified of the pick-up locations. They will also get wrapping paper to wrap the presents. “It’s important for the parents to know what their kids are getting,” Everson said.
Last year several dozen kids across the county received gifts they wouldn’t have gotten if not for the generosity of those people who donated to Operation Family Christmas.
“We are trying to get started earlier this year so more people will have a chance to give. We don’t want any kids left out. We don’t want anyone forgotten,” said Everson.
If you don’t want to donate a toy but still want to contribute, checks or gift cards can be sent to Andrea Everson at P.O. Box 1260, Grand Marais, MN. 55604.
Leave a Reply