As some of us deck the halls and start making our holiday shopping plans, still other families in the community aren’t sure how they’ll celebrate the holidays this year.
For nearly 30 years, Hanover Food Shelf has been a community staple in providing food, clothing and meals to families in need in our area. In addition, they have provided toys and gifts during the holiday season.
Their “Caring For Kids Toy Drive” has just begun and toys will be collected through December 15 at various local businesses.
DaNette Robeck has been a volunteer at the food shelf and has helped run Caring for Kids for the past 11 years. “I came as a volunteer many years back and helped distribute toys and what started as a small project turned into something else.”
Caring for Kids serves between 500-600 children from birth to age 18 at Christmas through both their Adopt a Family program and the Toy Drive.
Local parents who are struggling to meet their family’s basic needs are invited in to register their families at Hanover Food Shelf and then are able to make an appointment to come “shop” the donations on December 17. The amount of gifts families are gifted all depends on the donations that are given.
“This is a way for kids to give back and directly help their classmates,” Robeck said noting that all donations go to families in the St. Michael, Albertville, Hanover and a portion of Corcoran and Loretto.
Caring for Kids is collecting toys for all ages, as well as hats, mittens and financial contributions. While the needs change each year, Robeck said that most years babies (0-2) and teens (11-18) are the ages that are needed the most.
To make a financial donation, please call 763.498.8311 or stop at Hanover Food Shelf at St. Pauls Lutheran Church. To donate toys and gifts, please drop off new and unwrapped gifts at one of the businesses in the area with a drop off box.
Albertville:
Albertville Body Shop, City of Albertville, Coborn’s, Financial Security Bank, Forte Music Academy, HealthSource Chiropractic, Infit/Anytime Fitness, Kremer Toy and Hobby, Longhaul Trucking, Premier Banks, Millennium Dance Company, Precision Auto Repair and Summit Chiroporactic and Wellness Center.
St. Michael:
Allina Health St. Michael Clinic, BANKWEST, City of St. Michael, CrossFit STMA, EyeCare Center of St. Michael, EyeWest Vision Clinic and Optical, First American Bank, Engelhaus, Marketplace, Marksman Metals, Midwest One Bank, Northwest Spine and Pain Center, Preferred Choice Chiropractic, State Farm Insurance and Walgreens.
Hanover:
City of Hanover, Inner Purpose Health and Wellness, LLC and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
Rockford:
I-94 West Chamber of Commerce
As you start planning your Holiday shopping and check and double check those lists, please consider being intentional and shopping for some of those kids who aren’t necessarily wishing for the newest iPhone or hover board. Think about that mom or dad and how just a little generosity will make their holiday season just a little brighter.