The Season of Giving

Hudson-area businesses and organizations are pitching in once again this year to help provide for those less fortunate in the community. From now until Christmas the Star-Observer will promote these efforts. To be included in this listing call the Star-Observer at (715)386-9333.

Operation HELP offers chance to give and receive

Operation HELP’s 2010 Christmas Campaign for Kids is aimed at providing a

Christmas experience for children in the Hudson school district.

According to Operation HELP board president Monica Weekes, the program continues to give parents who are experiencing financial difficulties the opportunity to bring the Christmas spirit to their children’s lives. This year the focus is coming back to the children, and the sponsors will be asked to provide gifts only for the children. The families will still receive grocery gift cards, linens, paper goods, etc. collected by various churches and groups in the community.

This year the campaign is taking place "on-line." Anyone who wishes to participate in the campaign, either as a sponsor or as a client, should go to the Operation HELP website to register: www.operationhelpstcroix.org. Prospective sponsors should click on Christmas sponsor and parents wishing to be sponsored should click on Christmas wish list. Everyone will be contacted either by e-mail or by phone. Sponsors will be asked to deliver their items to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 502 County UU, on Monday, Dec. 13, from noon to 6 p.m. Distribution of Christmas items will be on Thursday, Dec. 16. Computers for registration are available at the Hudson Library, 700 First St., or at the SOURCE office in the old library building, 901 Fourth St.

In addition to the Christmas campaign, Operation HELP provides rent and utility assistance and minor car repairs to families in St. Croix County who are in a financial crisis. It also provides warm winter clothing -- jackets, boots, hats and mittens -- to children and adults who lack these items. This Warm In Winter program, opportunities to volunteer, or additional information can be accessed by calling the Operation HELP office at (715) 386-0881 on Monday, Tuesdays, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m.-noon and Thursday from 7-9 p.m. or by visiting the website. Operation HELP is supported by funding from the United Way St. Croix Valley, area foundations and community-wide donations.

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army has already begun its kettle campaign in Hudson, but the organization is in need of more bell ringers if they are to raise their goal of $100,000 for those in need in St. Croix County. Donations received during the holiday season are earmarked for vouchers for those in the county with utility disconnect notices, eviction notices from landlords, and other emergency services as needed. According to requests, the need for assistance in the county has tripled during the past year.

Volunteers to man the red kettles for two-hour shifts are needed through Christmas Eve. Locally there will be kettles in front of County Market, Wal-Mart and Family Fresh. To volunteer as a bell ringer or make a donation call (715) 247-2944.

The SOURCE

The SOURCE-Serving Our Underserved Residents Compassionately and Equitably is a grassroots initiative established to provide a place where Hudson area residents can work with volunteers to identify the best available social services to meet their needs. Their goals include addressing unmet needs of individuals and families in the Hudson area, providing a safe place that offers hospitality and community resources and connecting individuals to the right support organizations to assist them. Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Thursday from 5-8 p.m. They expect to expand the hours in the near future to accommodate more clients.

SOURCE is being funded by grants and donations. The Hudson Community Fund and the St. Croix Valley Foundation are fiscal sponsors of organization. Anyone interested in making a donation to SOURCE can do so by mailing a check payable to the Hudson Community Fund and naming the SOURCE on the memo line. Donations should be mailed to Hudson Community Fund, 516 Second St., Suite 214, Hudson, WI 54016.

For more information, go to the SOURCE website at http://www.thesourcehudson.com, e-mail thesourcehudson@gmail.com or call (715) 386-1300.

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