Christmas presents were piled high under the tree at the North Shore Federal Credit Union’s Grand Marais branch this December as people brought them in for kids who would be without gifts if not for Operation Family Christmas. The four women who have been in charge of Operation Family Christmas for the last five years have announced they are looking for someone new to lead the important program in the county.
For many kids in Cook County, Christmas would not have been the same without Operation Family Christmas, but the four women who have brought the program to the county the past five years are ready for someone else to fill their shoes.
It’s not that they feel it hasn’t been successful, but maybe that’s been the biggest problem, the program is outgrowing what they are capable of giving, said one of the event organizers, Andrea Everson.
“We would like the community to know that there is a large need for Operation Family Christmas to continue but we feel at this time it needs new blood, new ideas and new energy,” she said.
Besides Everson, the others behind this much-loved gift giving operation have been Anna Sandstrom, Lindsay Mielke and Samantha Wallner.
“We had 68 kids that were able to get toys this year,” said Everson. “The community really pulled together to insure that these children would get items on their list. We couldn’t have done this again if it hadn’t been for the North Shore Credit Union, Grand Portage Charter School, Cook County I.S.D. 166, Grand Portage Health and Human Services, Cook County Sheriff ’s Office, Arrowhead Cooperative, Bethlehem Lutheran Church and the Violence Prevention Center.”
“If anyone is interested in learning more about Operation Family Christmas, please contact Lindsay Mielke at the Cook County Sheriff ’s office,” Everson said, adding, “We will be interested in helping anyone who is interested in taking the program over.”
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