WILLMAR -- The calendar shows it's just over a week until Christmas, and the 2005 Warm the Children campaign is barely at 70 percent of this year's goal of raising $34,000 to help provide warm winter clothing for area children.
Organizers of the annual campaign say shopping is in full swing, as families referred for the program are being matched with volunteers to take children shopping for new winter coats, boots, snowpants or other needed clothing items.
The ultimate goal of the program is to make sure all area children have the warm clothing needed to endure a chilly Minnesota winter.
Last year, the Warm the Children campaign took in $33,443, and helped clothe 431 children throughout the area. Now in its 12th year, the Warm the Children campaign has helped more than 3,400 children from an estimated 1,150 families over the past 11 years.
All donations go to help the children. The program is administered through the West Central Tribune, with assistance from area social service agencies and schools making referrals. The families are then taken shopping in order to purchase new warm winter clothing for the children. Each child is allowed an estimated $80 in purchases.
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The program reaches out into all regions of the West Central Tribune's coverage area, including Kandiyohi, Meeker, Chippewa, Renville, Swift and Yellow Medicine counties, as well as several additional bordering school districts.
A total of 401 donations have been received during the 2005 campaign. To date, donations total $23,687. Thank you to all who have contributed in any way and been a part of making the Warm the Children program a huge success.
Donations may be mailed to: Warm the Children, PO Box 839, Willmar MN 56201; or dropped at the Tribune offices at 2208 Trott Ave. S.W. in Willmar.
Applications are made through your local social service agencies.
Anyone interested in being a volunteer shopper with the Warm the Children program is encouraged to contact the Tribune at 235-1150.
Recent contributions have been received from:
Appleton: Rich & Yvonne Anderson
Atwater: Ole Hovey, Clinton & Louise Ahl, Chester & Elaine Johnson, Gordy & Linnea Johnson, Allen & Jeanne Finsrud, Ken & Debbie Blasing
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Belgrade: Marvin & Doris Grothem, Bruce & Janet Wing; Crow River WELCA, Martha Circle of Grace Lutheran Church, Tabitha Circle Crow River Lutheran Church
Benson: Connie & Larry Kenyon
Clara City: Christine Ley
Granite Falls: Susan Lunneborg & Chuck Blomberg
Grove City: James & Arlene Johnson
Hawick: Marguerite Hufford
Hector: Jeff & Anne Heerdt; Rebecca Circle of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, First Lutheran Church
Kandiyohi: Lisa Hoffer, LaVerne & Ramona Latterell, Ione Polley; Tripolis Women of the ELCA
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Kerkhoven: Rod & Carol Rohr
Lake Lillian: Jerome & Carol Osteraas
Madison: Lorraine Roth
Maynard: Darrel & Verna Janssen
Montevideo: Randy Arndt
New London: Eleanor Swanson, Dale & JoAnn Wright
Olivia: Quin Buchtel, Jim & Ruth Martin, Chuck & Harriet Einerson
Paynesville: Betty Marthaler
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Pennock: Dick & Lynn Guse; 50 & Over Club; in memory of Travis Templer, by Laverne & Janice Wilke; Mamrelund WELCA
Prinsburg: Elda VanBuren
Raymond: Brad & Del Van De Riet, Mike & Mary Boelter, Arlyn & Julie Alsum; Mrs. Donner's sixth grade class at MACCRAY East Elementary; Mrs. Lohse's fourth/fifth grade class at MACCRAY East Elementary
Renville: Norman Peterson
Spicer: Lisa & Mike Thorson, Geri & Ray Dale, Ginger Hawes, Allen & Janet Hillstrom, Vern Thorstad, John & Shirley Terwisscha, Floyd Minnick, Myron & Joanne Mayer, Harold & Carol Conradi, Gene & Leila Wenzel, Mary Larson, Shirley Thomas; American Legion Auxiliary, Senior Citizens Club
Sunburg: Hope Lutheran Women of the ELCA
Willmar: David & Lynda Carlson, Marie Lingl, Robert & Cheryl Retrum, Grace Fagerlie, Bev Knight, Steven & Jodi Meyer, Carolyn Davis, Gordon & Margaret Gravgaard, John & Veda Barton, Duane & Arlys Lindgren, Helen Johnson, Jon & Mary Winge, Herb & Helen Stowater, Lowell & Barbara Torkelson, Mavis Olson, Diane Koch, Jon & Pamela Melander, Jeanne Hess, Birdie Johnson, Barbara Piasecki, Eilene Magnuson, Arlene Arnzen, Dewey & Mary Bock, Lowell & Lois Fostervold, Rich & Mary Jo Brunner, Curt & Carolyn Olson, Donna Isley, Austin & Muriel McCarthy, Kevin & Corinne Dahl, Dale & Judy Johnson, Tim & Cheryl Johnson, Gene & Shirley Bertram, Clifford Norskogs, Flo Klein, Carole Vennerstrom, Dennis & Susan Jordahl, Flo Pendergrast, Willard & Irma Peterson, Vern & Ellaner Raske, Lawrence & Hazel Kusler, DeAlton & Donna Rime, Gordon & Wendy Keller, Richard & Audrey Falk, Melvin Werder, Lorraine Himango, Kathy Wilner, Kari Bredberg, Alice & Algene Renstrom, William & Carol Leopold, Sally Demgen, Don & Donna Gilman, Jerry & Betty Wetterling, Esther Floren, Harold & Mary Larson, Lee & Dorothy Larson, Orvis & Rhoda Lang, Gene & Rosella Ormberg, Leon & Deb Lentz, Verna & John Kelly, Darlene Donahue; in memory of Ardis Daugherty, by Dave & Dee Anna Dorsey; in honor of Harris & Connie Duininck from Rick & Carol Maursetter; in honor of the Rev. Tom and Jan Hoogendoorn from Gys & Minnie Beukhof; Kevin Quinn State Farm Insurance, Willmar Gun Club, Bethel Lutheran Church Women, Bremer Matching Grant Program, Contemporary Study Club, Chiropractic Wellness Corner by Dr. Marybeth Nelson, Willmar Optimist Club, Willmar Assembly of God Church, Priscilla Circle of the United Methodist Church, WRTC AFSCME Local 701 employees, Bremer Bank, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Jennie-O Building 5 employees.
