Warm the Children 2006 campaign is under way

WILLMAR -- Contributions are starting to come in for the 2006 Warm the Children campaign. Goal of this year's drive is $35,000.

Last year, the Warm the Children campaign took in $36,791, and helped to clothe 473 children throughout the area. Now in its 12th year, the Warm the Children campaign has helped more than 3,900 children from an estimated 1,465 families over the past 11 years.

"Each year our goal goes up and we try to help more and more children," say program organizers. "But the list for those in need continues to grow, as well."

Organizers say it is "heartwarming" to receive all the thank yous and notes from those contributing to the Warm the Children campaign. Especially interesting is the "creative" way individuals, families, companies and communities come up with to raise money for the program.

For example, last season an out-of-state gentleman working in the area took a wooden "tater box" he had built to a local business and asked if they would sell chances on it. A winner's name was drawn on Dec. 24. The winner received the tater box and Warm the Children received all the money that was received.

Part of what makes Warm the Children special is that all donations -- 100 percent -- 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 warm winter clothing for the children. Each child is allowed an estimated $80 in purchases.

A total of 201 donations have been received for the 2006 campaign so far. To date, donations total $12,647.

In addition to the anonymous donations, contributions have been received from:

Appleton: Rich & Yvonne Anderson, Marlin & Phyllis Rieppel

Atwater: Elvera & Eldon Mahn, Phyllis Anderson, Shirley Walsh, Ole Hovey, Darren & Jennifer Amdahl, Chester & Elaine Johnson, Luella Behm; Women of Bethlehem Lutheran Church

Belgrade: Elaine Anderson, Ruby Thorson; Rosebud Garden Club

Benson: Connie & Larry Kenyon, Burle Forces, Lola Clemen

Clara City: Muriel Hubert, Jim Ammermann, Scott & Trudi Van Heuveln, Celestine Ley

Granite Falls: Marlys Swam, Susan Lunneborg & Chuck Blomberg, Alvin & Eleanor Sandquist; in honor of Ron & Diane Fagen from the Jim Fischer family; Granite Falls Lutheran Church Women

Hawick: Marguerite Hufford

Hector: Jeff & Anne Heerdt, Elaine Radloff

Kandiyohi: Jean Schmit, Wayne & Marilyn Zarnott; Ebenezer Women of the ELCA, Tripolis Lutheran Church

Lake Lillian: Kenneth & Mary Jeanne Wittman, Howard & Viola Flann, Donna Mae & Billie Scott, Del & Ruby Douma

Montevideo: Marion Anderson, Randy Arndt

New London: Stan & Maxine Monson, Tami & Rick Seipel, Thomas & Laverne Gleason, Dale & JoAnn Wright

Olivia: David Torgelson, Jeff & Cynthia Vosika, Marjorie Barber, John & Vi Johnston, Bette Hillemeier; Ricky J's Car Wash

Paynesville: Dick & Bernie Haines

Pennock: Dick & Lynn Guse, Bob & Dee Rosenbrook, Ed & Becky Huseby, Alyce Carlson; 50 & Over Club

Raymond: Daryl & Eunice Johnson

Renville: Vern & Joan Santjer, Wayne & Delores Hebrink

Sacred Heart: Ardis Kjersten, Robert Olson, John & Sharon Sietsema; Opdahl WELCA

Spicer: Eugene Wenzels, Myron & JoAnne Mayer, Linda Mickelson, Jim & Kareen Hayden, Bob & Jeanette Carlson, Steve & Sheryl Fladeboe, Jim & Carol Kluegel, Lad & Bea Ourada, Jon & Pamela Melander, Ferne Hagen, Joan Cash, Harold & Carol Conradi, Mary C. Hodapp; American Legion Auxiliary.

Sunburg: Jeanne Tollefson

Willmar: Ron & Ione Andreen, John & Veda Barton, Carly Braband, Lu Burgmeier & Jeff Fransen, Eilene Magnuson, Bruce & Janet Jaeger, Ron & Barb Prow, Lois Hurley, Jake & Mary Lou Schorn, Bob & Cheryl Retrum, Alice Van Ort, Dick & Delores Hoglund, Linda Kacher, Beverly Armstrong, Evie & Ralph Olson, Joe & Dorothy Freese, Agnes Carlson, Rick & Norma Conway, Ludvig & Alice Olsen, Bruce & Maureen Holmberg, Howard & Barbara Swenson, Esther Floren, Don & Donna Gilman, Keith & Susan Morris, Harold & Mary Larson, Gene & Shirley Bertram, Mervin Ellwoods, Jacob & Ruth Polta, Louie & Bev Thorson, Jan Kositzky, Ted & Mary Olson, Bonnie Kraemer, Jerry & Elaine Schliep, Terry & Janice Bartz, Tyke & Carol Myers, Frank & Shirley Chapin, Audrey Thiele, Orvis & Rhoda Lang, Jeanette & Allan Buchanan, Lowell & Barb Torkelson, Harris & Joan Hinderaker, Alice & Gene Renstrom, Alton & Elizabeth Carlson, Bruce & Diane Heymer, Kermit & Arlyne Bjornberg, Patrick & Judy Maiers, Viola Holmberg-Rau, Penny Johnson, Kathy Wilner, Inez Eddy, Dennis & Susan Jordahl, Dale & Kathryn Beliveau, Arlene Forbord, Ken & Gerda Saulsbury, Ione Nichols, Al & Dorothy Dikken, Fred & Margaret Mueller, James Classen, Odelia Eckhart, Bridget & Bob Karg, David & Valerie Bennett, Ben & Louise Thoma, Chet & Mona Flack, John & Jan Helin, Russ & Dorraine Miller, George & Dody Davies; for the Boyd Anderson family from Guy & Wendy Nelsen, in memory of Jennifer Augustson by the Beta Sigma Phi Chapter of Minnesota Theta Master; Willmar Car Club, Church of St. Mary, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Athenian Study Club, a Senior Companion.

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 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.