Free service for military families scaled back slightly, but still anticipated to be a blast

By Mark Fischenich

MANKATO — For two years, Donna Robbins organized her “Day After Thanksgiving Daycare” for military families.

In 2007, the service was aimed at spouses of deployed soldiers and it offered a huge variety of treats and perks. The idea was that Robbins and her volunteers would give the kids a few hours of fun activities so that their mom — or dad if the mom is serving overseas — would be free to do some intensive Christmas shopping.

Volunteers that year topped 30, participating families topped out at three.

In 2008, Robbins aimed the service at a broader audience — all military families, even if no one was currently deployed. Again, there wasn’t a great level of participation — just six kids.

In 2009, Robbins is trying again.

Why bother?

Her answer comes without hesitation.

“A little girl came up to me last year and said ‘Would you do this again next year? I love coming,’” Robbins said. “It’s hard to tell them no.”

Once again, the service will be provided on Friday — the much-hyped post-Thanksgiving retail event with the big discounts and the early store openings and the reputation for producing crazed shoppers. Once again, it will be free, will be located at Hosanna Lutheran Church (at the end of Main Street, a couple of blocks south of Wal-Mart) and will include meals, snacks and activities for the kids.

Robbins, a Navy veteran and wife of an Army veteran and mother of a pair of Army veterans, is scaling back the service a bit in recognition of the limited numbers of previous years.

Day care will be available as early as 7 a.m. but not at 6 a.m. like previous years (none of the families wanted to start that early). Shuttle service, offered previously so parents wouldn’t have to deal with jammed parking lots, probably won’t be offered (people wanted the freedom of using their own vehicle). Free haircuts, meant to have the kids looking perfect for their free picture with Santa, also have been dropped (not much interest).

But the key elements remain — an opportunity for volunteers to say thanks to military families and a chance for kids and parents to connect with others in their same situation, Robbins said.

“It helps the parents as well as the kids to know there’s others out there like them, and it’s OK to want help and it’s OK to ask for help,” she said.

And Robbins said it’s more than OK to provide help.

“It’s a blast,” Robbins said. “It’s a blast.”

It will be even more fun for her if 2009 is the busiest year ever for “Day After Thanksgiving Daycare.” Robbins reminds military families that they aren’t required to use the entire 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. length of the program. They can just drop the kids off for an hour or two if they prefer.

And if Black Friday shopping sounds too hectic, they can drop the kids off and go out for breakfast or lunch or just take a break, she said.

All she asks is that people register in advance, including the number and ages of kids, by calling her at (507) 469-5290 or e-mailing her at donnardad@hotmail.com. A few more volunteers might also be needed.

Already, nine kids are signed up.