WILLMAR -- It's just days until Christmas and for the first time in its 12 years the Warm the Children campaign is in danger of not meeting its goal. The 2005 campaign is at just 83 percent of its goal -- short more than $5,600.
Goal of this year's drive is $34,000 to help provide warm winter clothing for an estimated 450 children throughout the region.
Need has been great this year, according to campaign organizers, and the calls continue to come in. While the number of donations has already exceeded last year, the dollar amount is down.
The Warm the Children campaign 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.
Local stores cooperate as all shopping is done locally. Some of the stores are able to offer discounts, in order for the families to get more for their money, and all of the stores allow purchase order charges for the program.
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And, just as all the money stays local, all donations received -- 100 percent -- go to help the children. Administrative fees are covered by the Tribune. The program serves residents throughout the Tribune's coverage area in Kandiyohi, Meeker, Renville, Chippewa, Swift and Yellow Medicine counties, as well as most of the regional school districts.
Last year the Warm the Children campaign took in $33,443, and helped to cloth 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.
A total of 478 donations have been received during the 2005 campaign. To date, donations total $28,375.
Donations may be mailed to: Warm the Children, PO Box 839, Willmar MN 56201; or dropped at the Tribune offices at 2208 W. Trott Avenue in Willmar. Thank you to all who have contributed in any way and been a part of making the Warm the Children program a huge success over the years.
Recent contributors:
In addition to the anonymous donations, recent contributions have been received from:
Atwater: Elvera & Eldon Mahn, Deb & Joe Kloss, Delton & Barbara Petersen; Atwater United Methodist Church Evening Circle; Atwater United Methodist Men's Club
Belgrade: Ruby Thorson
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Benson: Burle & Donna Force, Dennis & Ann Minor; Meak & Associates
Bird Island: Zella Caspers
Blomkest: Donna Hedlof
Clara City: John Zimmers; in memory of Lee Essendrup from Mark and Cindy Plowman
Murdock: Alice Randt; Bethesda Lutheran Church
New London: Jeff & Amy Schmidt
Paynesville: Dick & Bernie Haines
Raymond: Tom & Marilyn Goeman
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Renville: Ivan & Joann Eckstrom
Spicer: Ralph & Kathy Jansen, Charles B. & Sharon Olson, Marvin Johnsons, Lad & Bea Ourada, Rich & Mary Allen, Ron & Wendy Strom; Allen & Marti Latham, Spicer Castle; Hannah Circle of Faith Lutheran Church; Rachel Circle of Faith Lutheran Church
Willmar: Russell & Karen Anderson, Dick & Lenore Fitzsimmons, Hazel Wells, Helen Pederson, Inga Johnson, Fran Iverson family, Lorraine & John Klaers, Jean Ostlund, Nick Walrath, Jon & Linda Saunders, Glenn & JoAnne Shannon, Ernest & Ardyce Meyer, Penny Johnson, Lowell & Barb Torkelson, Martin & Carly Braband, Dennis & Mary Lou Chappell, Rick & Linda Kacher, Andy & Jean Berg, Charlotte Mellom, Elmond Ekblads, Loren & Smitty Luschen, Rita Plotnik, Ronald & Loretta Holmgren, Tom & Kaye Molin, Bonnie Kraemer, Eleanor Toutges, Jean Pearson, Sue Ridler; Florence & Gene Dufty in honor of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren; Steve & Heidi Ahmann in memory of Pete Fagerlie; Bev Knight in memory of Pat Halvorson; Bridge Club: Franchon Ellwood, Karen Hanson, Lil Fossum, Dorothy Pierson, Dolores Ott, Julie Hovey and Carol Halvorson; Ruth Circle of Redeemer Lutheran Church; Minne Sunbonnet Dollars; Voiture 1413, 40 & 8; Bennett Office Technologies in honor of their customers.
