Share the spirit of Christmas

The volunteers of the Eagle Grove Share Christmas program have helped make the holidays bright for thousands of families over the last 50+ years. Christmas is a time of hope and love, and this program delivers that each and every year to families who have found themselves on hard times. Through Share Christmas, they are able to put a holiday meal on the table and a present under the tree for the children...but none of this would be possible without the generous businesses and community members who make it possible with their donations of cash and supplies.

Volunteers with Share Christmas are estimating that this year they will need $10,000 to fulfill all the need. Last year, Share Christmas served more than 120 families in the Eagle Grove area. More than 100 children under the age of 10 were anonymously adopted by our community from the “adoption tree” at the Eagle Grove Memorial Library. They know the need will be even greater in 2019, so they are hoping the generosity of the community continues. More cash donations are needed more than ever.

While non-perishable food and hygiene products are always welcomed and encouraged, the Share Christmas program no longer hands out boxes of pre-determined food and supplies. Instead, they use the extra cash donations to purchase gift certificates to Fareway which will be handed out to the pre-qualified families in need instead of boxes of food. The reasoning behind this is that they feel this allows families to purchase the food they like and will eat, and what better time to allow them that opportunity than during the holiday season.

“It’s a gift, so they can buy whatever they want as long as it’s food,” said Share Christmas volunteer Barb Johnston last year when the program was first changed.

Fellow volunteer Marcella Johnson added, “If they want to treat their family a little special, that’s okay.”

By receiving gift certificates, families will be allowed to purchase food as they wish rather than eating the food they are given. After all, doesn’t everyone like to splurge a little and have something special to eat during the holiday season? This will allow all families to have that option if they so choose.

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