The Spirit of Christmas comes in many forms

By Ginna Young

There are those who need a little extra help at Christmastime, to make the holiday special for families. That’s why area businesses and organizations are pulling together to make that happen.

Throughout Cadott, Cornell and Holcombe, the community can lend a hand to those in need in Chippewa County. Some places are collecting toys, while others look for warm clothing.

In Cadott, patrons can pick up a tag off the Spirit of Christmas tree at the Cadott Community Library. With the Spirit of Christmas, each location has 15-25 tags of wish list gifts that children have asked for.

Anyone can sign up to receive gifts through the Spirit of Christmas program (outside of the tree locations), but the school districts filter the applications. Once an unwrapped gift is purchased, it and the tag need to be dropped off at the same location the tag was picked up.

“It does not tell who these kids are, where they’re from or anything, it is all of Chippewa County,” said coordinator Ashley Carothers.

The Spirit of Christmas served more than 1,500 children last year, and if anyone wants to give extra gifts, they’re welcome to do so.

“If they don’t get a tag, they can still drop off any childappropriate gift at any of the collection spots,” said Spirit of Christmas contact Kathy Swanson.

The tags need to be filled and gifts returned by Dec. 1, so Swanson can get them to the distribution center. For more information, Swanson can be reached at 715-827-0065.

Also in Cadott, is a mitten tree at Proweld Fab, with collection taking place Nov. 15 through Dec. 6. The items of gloves and hats will be donated to the Cadott Elementary School.

“Give the gift of warmth this holiday season,” said Proweld Fab owner Brittany McIlquham.

Cook & Anderson Chiropractic, and Mathison Chiropractic are also jumping into the Christmas spirit, with a toy drive at their locations, from the end of November until Christmas.

In the chiropractic offices, are Christmas trees with tags provided by the Cadott School District, of needed items for children.

The Anson ATV Club also wants to see kids stay warm and dry, with a Keep Our Kids Warm tree at Randy’s Jim Town Inn in Jim Falls.

“As soon as we get our tree up, we’ll start it,” said Jim Town Inn owner Phyllis Goettl.

Donations can be new or like new items, such as socks, as kids get them wet on the playground during recess, hats, mittens and coats. Collection will run until the week before Christmas, and once the clothing is dropped off at the bar, the items will then be given to the Jim Falls Elementary School.

“Donations are anything to keep them warm,” said Goettl. The club also donates $300 to shop for snow pants to keep at the school, in the event a child forgets their snow pants.

In Cornell, Spirit of Christmas trees are located at Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative, Cornell Chiropractic, Lisa’s Beauty Salon, Marshfield Clinic and Stacker Nutrition.

A mitten tree is also up at the Courier Sentinel newspaper office, where the community can drop off mittens, gloves, hats and scarves through Nov. 26.

There’s also a tree at the Holcombe United Methodist Church, in search of warm socks, hats, mittens and gloves.

“Kind of for all ages,” said member Cheryl Bingham. Depending on sizes, the items will be distributed between the Lake Holcombe School and the Lake Holcombe Food Pantry. Since people need warm clothes all winter, the tree will stay up through December into January.

Although there are tags on the tree in the church, Bingham says anyone can drop off items without picking up a tag.

There’s also a Spirit of Christmas tree at Magic Salons.