Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Santa's helpers bring Christmas to Northwoods

By LARRY HOLCOMBE

[email protected]

The folks at Santa's Headquarters are back at it again looking to ensure each child in Gogebic County has a good Christmas.

It's about children and families, according to Ashley Dennis of the Michigan State University-Extension office in Bessemer. "We want to help families that need a little extra help providing Christmas to their children."

This is the 13th annual Santa's Headquarters, an organization run by an ad hoc committee of a dozen or so individuals either private or members of organizations such as MSU-Extension, the Gogebic-Ontonagon Community Action Agency and the state Department of Health and Human Services.

Dennis said 180 families in the county have filled out the forms so far, but she expects more to do so despite the fact the deadline has passed. "We want to serve everyone we can."

Forms are available at the DHHS office in Bessemer or at St. Vincent de Paul in Ironwood or Bessemer, and the MSU-Extension office.

The plan is to provide one large gift per child and a whole bunch of other goodies, according to Dennis, including "each family will go home with a board game so they can have a family night. We're also doing movie passes, and gift certificates from local restaurants, and a $50 gift card for groceries."

There are also stocking stuffers, toothbrush, tooth paste and other toiletries, and a hat and mittens each child.

Distribution will be Wednesday, Dec. 5, at the Memorial Building in Ironwood and on Thursday, Dec. 6, at the Watersmeet Community Center for families there.

Families will receive a letter with a number on it with an approximate time they will be served. This was a changed made last year so families aren't standing outside waiting.

Nos. 1-20 will be served in the first half hour, and the next 20 in the next half hour, and so on, said Dennis. "Usually we get done within about five hours."

Santa's Headquarters is also taking donations.

Organizers are always looking for monetary donations and there are gift tags on Christmas trees at various city, township and county offices, libraries, churches and businesses around the community,

The tags hanging on the trees note the age and gender of a youth whose family has signed up for the program. Organizers are asking for an unwrapped gift donation worth $10 to $20.

Those who take a tag, are asked to bring the gift back to the tree by Dec. 1. Dennis said they'll pick up the gifts there, or people can bring them to the MSU-Extension office.

Dennis has been involved with the committee for three years and has seen an increase in the number of families served. "We had 184 last year, but usually get 10 to 20 more yet."

"We are working to make sure each child can have a Christmas with their family and help them out -  making sure each child has a happy Christmas," said Dennis.

Monetary donations can be sent to: Santa's Headquarters, c/o St. Vincent de Paul in Ironwood, 108 S. Marquette St., Ironwood, MI 49938.

For more information, call Dennis or Erin Ross at the MSU-Extension office at 906-663-4045.

 
 
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