Bethlehem Lutheran Church was a noisy, but happy place to be on Wednesday, December 17 as the church’s confirmation class helped sort and select the gifts to be distributed in Operation Family Christmas. In addition to presents, each family received a plate of goodies prepared by the confirmands.
Although there were a few concerns as the deadline for donations for Operation Family Christmas (OFC) neared, Cook County community members came through and organizers were able to fill bags of toys, games, and clothing items for all of the families that needed a little help this holiday.
Organizers gathered at Bethlehem Lutheran Church on Wednesday, December 17 to distribute items to the recipients whose names had been received confidentially from Cook County Schools, Cook County Law Enforcement and the Violence Prevention Center.
Helping select gifts was the Bethlehem Lutheran Church confirmation class. Excited teens were given the task of finding a present for a “4-year-old boy” or a “13-year-old” girl from tables overflowing with wonderful gifts.
Other confirmands were at work in the dining area, decorating holiday treats to be given to each family.
Overseeing the delightful chaos of Operation Christmas were Andrea Everson, Anna Sandstrom, Lindsay Mielke and Samantha Wallner, along with the Bethlehem Lutheran confirmation instructors and other community members.
Everson said she especially wanted to give credit to Mielke. “If it weren’t for Lindsay, this wouldn’t have run as smoothly as it did. She was a great organizer!”
There are many individuals and businesses to thank, said Everson, such as the businesses that offered space for Operation Family Christmas collection boxes and Bethlehem Lutheran Church which allowed organizers to store items and turn the fellowship hall into a “toy store.”
Everson said Arrowhead Electric made a wonderful donation of locally handmade hats and mittens.
Everson said thanks to The Pie Place, Arrowhead Pharmacy, Johnson’s Foods, Caribou Highlands, Grand Portage Human Services, Sons of the American Legion, Superior Lumber, Joynes Ben Franklin, Buck’s Hardware, the Cook County Community Center, Cook County Law Enforcement Center and the Birch Grove Foundation.
Although organizers have yet to commit to offering Operation Family Christmas again next year, as toys were sorted and plans for distribution were made, more than one of Santa’s helpers were heard to say, “When we do this next year…”
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