Christmas in Fillmore County is coming!

The yearly Christmas in Fillmore County sponsored by the Rural Concerns Task Force will indeed go on this year. While the pandemic has made it necessary to make some changes in the format, the generous people of Fillmore County will still be able to help their neighbors.

The Rural Concerns Task Force was formed by Sheila Craig of Fillmore County Extension Services, Sharon Serling of Fillmore County Health, Wendy Ebner of Fillmore County Social Services, and Judy Stenbeck from Semcac in response to the Farm Crisis of the mid ‘80s. According to Sheila Craig, people were bringing in coats and clothes to help struggling farm families, and the organizers decided to create an organized approach. While the program got off to a slow start, soon many groups were donating to the cause which became known as Christmas in Fillmore County. The non-profit program has now been going on for around 35 years. Veterans Services has joined in the effort as well.

Families could apply to receive gifts for their kids until November 23, 2020; people who wish to apply after that are encouraged to call Lynn Mensink at Semcac (507) 765-2761.  Application families are asked to supply ages and interests of their children. Gifts will be chosen based on that information so every kid will receive items that they want — not just random gifts.

A list of previous sponsors were contacted in October. This year most of the donations have been monetary, with some kids’ toys as well. Requested often this year by children have been gift cards so they can shop online.

While in previous years, kids were able to shop from a selection of items displayed on tables when they picked up their gifts, this year, all gifts will be bagged for families to pick up with no other shopping. According to Mensink, who has been involved in the program for 25 years, lines at pick-up often got packed, something to avoid in this pandemic. In order to avoid lines, this year pick-ups will be handled as drive-bys. Families will receive a letter with a number, and will bring that number to the pick up location to receive their gifts.

Mensink shared that currently she is working with the Rushford Lutheran Church to use the church as the Rushford pick-up site on December 14 from 1-4:30 p.m. On December 15, families can come to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Spring Valley from 2-6 p.m., and pick-up in Preston will be in the back of the Community Services Building on December 16 from 1-8 p.m. and December 17 from 8 a.m. -3:30 p.m.

Volunteers will bring the gifts to the families’ cars at curbside. Families are asked to remain in their cars and to wear masks for safety. There will be no early admittance.

Anyone who would like to contribute can send their donation of local store gift cards, money, etc., as soon as possible to Mensink at Semcac, 515 Washington St. NW, P.O. Box 5, Preston, Minn. 55965. Checks should be made out to the Rural Concerns Task Force. Any extra donations will be held in reserve for families who find themselves in need through the year. Donations and recipients remain anonymous.

In the past both groups such as 4-H, businesses, churches, and individuals have supported the program. Mensink shared that Harmony-Preston-Rushford Foods are sponsoring a fundraising effort in which people purchase bags of groceries to donate. She called Valley Design their own Santa; Valley Design has given food, gifts for kids, gift cards for families as well as money for the food shelf. POET has also been donating to the food shelf.

Mensink enthused, “If you want to live in a caring, nurturing, loving community, this is it!” She went on to share that the food shelf is doing well, noting the fantastic donors in the county.

With the help of all the fantastic donors, Christmas in Fillmore County will indeed continue. Have yourself a Merry Christmas, contribute if you can, and apply for gifts if you need them!