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Thursday, November 19, 2009

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You can make a difference for their Christmas

By JODIE TWEED

Staff Writer

Maybe you have only a few dollars to spare or a couple hours of your time.

But there are many ways to personally touch the lives of struggling families and children in Crow Wing County during the holidays. Here are a few ideas on how you, your family, friends or co-workers can make the holiday season a bit brighter for a neighboring family struggling in these tough economic times.

At several locations throughout the Brainerd-Baxter area there will soon be Salvation Army Angel Trees filled with tags representing nearly 500 area children ages infant to 16 years who are seeking new clothing items for Christmas.

Bonnie Sahf, family services director for The Salvation Army, said residents may pick a tag off the tree, purchase a gift for that child and wrap it, then deliver it to the Salvation Army, 208 Fifth St.by Dec. 8. After Salvation Army volunteers receive the donated gifts, they pack up the gifts, along with a food basket for each family.

Tanya Nelson, an employee at Big Stone Therapies, arranged the gift tags on The Salvation Army Angel Tree at the Baxter company. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
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So far about 340 families have signed up but the list continues to grow. Last year 765 families, including 1,129 children, were served by the Salvation Army, said Sahf.

"It's gone up every year," said Sahf. "The way the economy is, I'm assuming that we're going to get more."

Sahf said every year there are around 100 to 200 children whose names were not picked from an Angel Tree. When this occurs, the Salvation Army purchases those gifts but the organization has yet to receive any donations for its Angel Tree program and Christmas food baskets. Sahf said usually by this time of year they have received monetary donations toward these programs but there haven't been any yet.

Angel Tree locations include the Westgate Mall, Bremer Banks, Wells Fargo Bank, Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Unions, First National Banks of Deerwood, Big Stone Therapies in Baxter and BN Credit Union.

The Salvation Army's kettle drive kickoff will be Friday at Wal-Mart in Baxter. Maj. Jeff Strickler of the Salvation Army said they need volunteers to fill 2,400 hours of bell-ringing during the holiday kettle campaign. Those who aren't able to contribute money could give of their time to help the Salvation Army raise funds to help area needy families. Call the Salvation Army at 829-1120 to sign up for a bell-ringing shift.

The Toys for Kids program, run by the Heartland Detachment Marine Corps League, is collecting new toys for infants through 14 years to be distributed Dec. 17 at the National Guard Armory for struggling families that signed up for the program through the Salvation Army. Its big kick-off celebration is planned for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 27 at 3Wi Radio, 305 Washington Street, Brainerd. The event will include refreshments, treats, visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus, a silent auction and more. Hot dog, pizza and sloppy joes will be available for $1 each. New unwrapped toys will be gladly accepted for the program, which is not affiliated with the national Toys for Tots program. All donations for Toys for Kids will remain in the Brainerd lakes area.

The tags represent a Brainerd lakes area child in need of new clothing for Christmas. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
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Jack Huber, committee chairman for Toys for Kids, said toy drop boxes are located at 40 locations throughout the Brainerd lakes area, along with more than 40 coin containers for monetary donations at area gas stations and organizations. Toys for Kids also has a giving tree with children's tags at the Westgate Mall. Gifts may be purchased and left at the Westgate Mall office, said Huber.

Between Dec. 8-17, Toys for Kids volunteers are busy filling orders at the armory for area children. Last year they provided gifts for 976 children in 454 families.

Huber said Toys for Kids only accepts toys, not clothing, but their biggest problem is filling requests for toys for infants to about 5 years old because there are so many children in that age group.

Huber said those who may only be able to contribute a few dollars could purchase crayons, markers or coloring books and drop them in a toy drop box for Toys for Kids at a local store. He said the organization is always short on those items that are used to fill out a gift request for a child.

"People really step up and help at Christmas," Huber said, noting that several area companies and organizations host fundraisers for the program.

Huber said anyone who would like to donate to Toys for Kids may call him at (218) 764-2733.

The Women's Center of Mid-Minnesota also has a giving tree located at the Westgate Mall, said Annie Pikula, house manager at the women's center. Tags are available on the tree so people may adopt an area mother or her children who have in the past year left an abusive home. Pikula said last Christmas they provided Christmas gifts for about 150-170 women and children. Those who wish to adopt an entire family and provide Christmas gifts for them may contact Pikula at 828-1216.

Bridges of Hope is working with Crow Wing County Social Services to connect families in need with area churches, organizations, businesses or individuals for the holiday season. Families sign up for the program at social services and those applications are sent to Bridges of Hope, which matches them with a sponsor.

Junell Larson of Bridges of Hope is coordinating the effort. She said so far 75 families have signed up but the county is accepting applications through Nov. 30 and that list will grow. Community members may contact Larson at 825-7682, ext. 224, or via e-mail at janelle@bridgesofhopemn.org to request a family. She will provide the ages, clothing sizes and any desired gifts requested by a struggling family. She asks questions of each sponsor so she can make a suitable match.

Larson said sponsors may deliver the Christmas gifts themselves to the families or Bridges of Hope does have volunteers who will do it, too, if they don't feel comfortable.

"It can be very rewarding to deliver them," said Larson. "A lot of people love to deliver on their own and a lot of them will do a food basket as well, or provide a food gift card."

Larson said this is the first year Bridges of Hope has undertaken the project themselves; last year the non-profit organization partnered with social services. Larson said they do have some organizations already sponsoring families but need others. She said some families, instead of buying gifts for each other, sponsor a needy family and purchase gifts for them. Or companies will sponsor a family instead of hosting a company Christmas party.

"It's a really neat way to give back," said Larson.

JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.

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