By Brian Ojanpa
MANKATO — ’Tis the season to pony up and pay it forward.
Two Mankato charitable organizations kicked off their annual holiday season fund drives Wednesday.
The Salvation Army aims to raise $341,500, and the Holiday Sharing Tree is seeking gifts for hundreds of families.
Salvation Army bellringers will be out in force through Christmas Eve as the organization’s Red Kettle Campaign seeks to rebound from an uncharacteristic shortfall in 2008.
“Last year we didn’t meet our kettle goal,” said Capt. Mike Parker, blaming bad weather during the campaign’s crucial final week.
The Salvation Army’s Christmas mail appeal and kettle campaign account for one-third to one-half of the organization’s annual fundraising revenues.
“It creates a little anxiety,” Parker said.
As usual, the Salvation Army is seeking bellringer volunteers, and those interested can call 345-7840.
Meantime, the Holiday Sharing Tree is entering its 24th year of providing gifts to those in need in Nicollet and Blue Earth counties.
“Each year it’s kind of nail-biting because we have three weeks to fill 3,000 needs,” Sharing Tree project manager Liz Brown said.
People may pick up Sharing Tree cards containing gift requests at various locations in Mankato and St. Peter. The wrapped gifts and cards are then to be dropped off at a Sharing Tree site.
Since 1985 the project has provided more than 48,000 gifts to individuals. For most, these are the only gifts they receive during the holidays.
Brown sees two challenges this year: A slight increase in overall need coupled with people’s ability to donate.
Cash donations are used to purchase gifts for those whose Giving Cards are not picked up or not returned. The project has a 24-hour hotline (386-4972) to answer questions and accept donations.
Sharing Tree sites are in Mankato supermarkets and shopping malls and in St. Peter at Nutter Clothing and First National Bank.
Gift distribution will be Dec. 22 at the Mankato National Guard Armory and Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Peter.
