Santa Anonymous gears up for another busy year

By Tucker Henderson

Reporter

As the Christmas season draws near, Santa Anonymous is gearing up for another year of giving. 

Families in need around the New York Mills area will be receiving Christmas gifts and a full meal donated by the group. Fundraising starts in December as donation boxes are placed at local businesses, proceeds raised at the Christmas Tree Festival and proceeds from the annual Community Thanksgiving Meal hosted by Trinity Lutheran proceeds all benefit Santa Anonymous.

While December is their busiest season, President Latham Hetland said that they also provide flowers to those who have lost loved ones throughout the year. The five-person board is only associated with the surrounding area of NY Mills and their offerings each year are specific to them. Other local communities such as Perham and Wadena have their own Santa Anonymous organizations that have group-specific services.

Families can be nominated throughout the season to receive gifts and a meal by community members. Between 50-80 families are nominated each year in our area. The region spans multiple communities, including but not limited to: Butler, New York Mills, Heinola, Ottertail and Bluffton.

Volunteers also donate their time to the organization to help wrap and deliver gifts, collect supplies, set up advertisements and donations from community members make up a large form of help.

Anyone who knows of a family in need, you can get in contact with Kay Tougas at (218) 298-0272 to nominate them for this Christmas season.