Donations update 1/1/13

Thank you to the following people and organizations that have donated to the Santa Claus Girls! Your generous donations of time & money make this very successful program possible!

Anonymous $10.00

In memory of Chris Landa by the Rogers & Juve family $25.00

In memory of Wayne, Brian & Jerry Ress from Florence Ress & Fern Tandberg-Ress $40.00

In honor of Richard and Mary Loing of Reynolds, ND by Ruth Waller $200.00

Anonymous $100.00

From Central Class of 50 Lunch Bunch $30.00

In memory of Brother Gerald by sisters; Helen, Libby & Mayme $25.00

American Federal Bank $150.00

In memory of Cal & Florence Batzer by Dale & Michelle Larson $25.00

“Shane, forever yours, Wendy” $20.00

In memory of Duane McDaniel, Stephen Flaten and Margaret Schultz by Joseph and Joyce Zunich, Jr. $75.00

Albert and Marilyn Chruszch $100.00

In memory of Aunt Robbi Wehe by Matt, Karlee & Kelsey Wehe $25.00

John & Jackie Knudson $20.00

Victor Johnson $50.00

In memory of Charles G. McWilliams by Liz, Brenda & Lisa $100.00

Larry Laughlin $50.00

Total as of 1/1/13   $12,344.00

Goal $15,000

Donations may be sent to Santa Claus Girls, Grand Forks Herald, Box 6008, Grand Forks, ND 58206-6008 We have included a form you can download and print out to send in with your donation.

Click on the following link to download a form http://legacy.grandforksherald.com/pdfs/SANTACLAUSGIRLS%20FORMr1.pdf

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Donations update 12/23/12

Thank you to the following people and organizations that have donated to the Santa Claus Girls! Your generous donations of time & money make this very successful program possible!

Scheels  $1,000

In memory of Bob Freeberg & Robert Maxon by Coldwell Banker Real Estate  $100

In memory of Robbi Rae Wehe from Mom & Dad  $100

Darlene Clifton  $100

Barbara & Ronald Skalicky  $25.00

Red Ray Runners Bowling League  $50.00

In loving memory of Bernie Kresel & Tom Samson by Shirley Kresel  $30.00

In memory of Jeff Scherschligt by Pam, Mitch, Jenna, & Kali  $50.00

Anonymous  $10.00

In memory of Gerald E. Hahn, Sr.  $100.00

Myron & Irmy Haugen  $250.00

In memory of our parents – Rodney & Pat Robbins and John & Sophie Maddock by Patrick J. Maddock  $50.00

Total as of 12/23/12  $11,299.00

Goal $15,000

Donations may be sent to Santa Claus Girls, Grand Forks Herald, Box 6008, Grand Forks, ND 58206-6008 We have included a form you can download and print out to send in with your donation.

Click on the following link to download a form http://legacy.grandforksherald.com/pdfs/SANTACLAUSGIRLS%20FORMr1.pdf

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Donations update 12/19/12

Thank you to the following people and organizations that have donated to the Santa Claus Girls! Your generous donations of time & money make this very successful program possible!

NALC Branch 0517  $250

In memory of Dalonna Bjorge former Herald employee by Dave and Mary Tannahill $25

In loving memory of Ruth Jillard & James Taylor Motter by Patsy Nies $25

In loving memory of my beloved husband, Alvin and sons, Ken & Don by Fern Langerud $50

Katze & Naseweiss $15

Sharon Fields, Boop Hillestad, and family $20

Dave & Clarice Grubb $50

Six Shades of Grey Book Club $120

Paula H. Lee $40

Arthur & MaryAnn Sanborn $25

Lyle & Yvonne Nelson $25

Cynthia Keaveny $50

Jamie & Lisa Hams $10

In memory of John by Izola Heffern $20

In memory of my husband, Ralph and in honor of my children, grandchildren and great-grand children by Jan Marto $50

Anonymous $25

Joseph & Juanita Peterka $25

Raymond & Joyce Jarombek $25

Anonymous $10

Angela Carter $100

from Eagles Christmas party $111

Eagles Club #350, East Grand Forks $500

Inkster Homemakers $25

In memory of Alice Renner by Darci Bohn $25

Central Class of 50 Lunch Bunch, Marilyn Berg, Donna Burris, Eileen Nelson, Mary Lou Korfhage, Lois Fontaine, Dona Peterson, Jean Danner-Thompson, Eleanor Thompson $50

In honor of our grandchildren and great-grandchildren by Clarence & Eleanor Thompson $25

Prime Steel Car Club $500

Northern Cruz Club $136

Marlene J. Maxon $50

Black Gold Farms, Inc $250

Kent & Val Krogstad $40

GF American Legion Auxiliary Past President’s Parley $25

In memory of Kody Kalif, Angie Kalif, Robert Kalif, and Shawn Kalif by Larry & Pat Graveline $30

In memory of Renee Belt Ronald by her family $25

Anonymous $40

Anonymous $25

Bethany Women of the ELCA $50

In memory of Tony by Stan and Jean Smestad $25

David & Janine Evenson $150

In memory of our daughter, Amber Smart, by Dale & Connie Dahlen $25

Eileen & Harry Anderson $50

Margaret Bundlie $50

In memory of Doug Klaven by Gil & Lorraine: Darrell, Randy, Roger, Rodney, Nancy, and Tracey: special friend Sandy $50

Bernice Sauer $15

Joyce Barrett $25

In memory of Duane Shephard by Marian Shephard $25

Total as of 12/19/12  $9,434.00

Goal $15,000

Donations may be sent to Santa Claus Girls, Grand Forks Herald, Box 6008, Grand Forks, ND 58206-6008 We have included a form you can download and print out to send in with your donation.

Click on the following link to download a form http://legacy.grandforksherald.com/pdfs/SANTACLAUSGIRLS%20FORMr1.pdf

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Delivering Holiday Cheer

Thank you to everyone who helped distribute and deliver the Santa Claus Girls packages last Friday!  When the doors were answered and the packages given, the recipients were very appreciative and thankful.

Donations can be sent to Santa Claus Girls, Grand Forks Herald, Box 6008, Grand Forks, ND 58206-6008 We have included a form you can download and print out to send in with your donation. THANK YOU!

Click on the following link to download a form http://legacy.grandforksherald.com/pdfs/SANTACLAUSGIRLS%20FORMr1.pdf

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Donations update as of 12/12/12

Thank you to the following people and organizations that have donated to the Santa Claus Girls! Your generous donations of time & money make this very successful program possible!

Bob & Sally Horner  $25

In Memory of my husband, Ivan Nelson by Yvonne Nelson  $100

In Memory of Bradley James Holweger, beloved son, father & brother from his family  $50

Anonymous  $100

Marilyn A. Bjerke  $25

In Honor of our children: Ann, Diane, Dale & Alan; Our grandchildren and great-grandchildren  $200

Sioux Fan  $40

In Memory of Joe & Margaret Houle by Mr. & Mrs. William Houle  $25

In Memory of my dad, Bill Coss by Mary Rydell  $20

DONATIONS TOTAL AS OF 12/12/12  $4,793.00

Goal $15,000

Donations may be sent to Santa Claus Girls, Grand Forks Herald, Box 6008, Grand Forks, ND 58206-6008 We have included a form you can download and print out to send in with your donation.

Click on the following link to download a form http://legacy.grandforksherald.com/pdfs/SANTACLAUSGIRLS%20FORMr1.pdf

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What are you doing Friday morning?

The Santa Claus Girls are looking for volunteers to deliver packages tomorrow morning (Friday, 12/14/12) beginning at 8am.  Anyone interested in helping should come to the alley entrance of the Grand Forks Herald downtown building (375 2nd Ave. N) at 8am.  Delivering Santa Claus Girls packages is a very rewarding experience!

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Getting ready …

This is what we like to call Santa Claus Girls week.  It all starts with an employee “sandbag” line to bring the toys, games and etc. up from the basement of the Herald.  Santa Claus Girls shop year round to get the best deals on merchandise.

Everything is put into our community room and is sorted into boys, girls and age appropriate categories.  After the sorting, Santa Claus Girls go through the lists received and put the packages together.  This year approximately 750 children will receive packages.

On Wednesday, a group of volunteers packed the goodie bags consisting of fruit snacks, animal crackers, a candy bar and a candy cane. These goodie bags are included with each package.  It took about an hour to make up 750 bags.

Oh by the way – in addition to the sweet stuff, everyone also receives toothpaste.

The completed packages need to be ready to go early Friday morning.  Recipients receive a card in the mail prior to distribution day. They can pick up packages at the Herald Friday morning with their card or a volunteer driver will deliver the packages to those who are unable to come to the Herald.

Donations can be sent to Santa Claus Girls, Grand Forks Herald, Box 6008, Grand Forks, ND 58206-6008  We have included a form you can download and print out to send in with your donation.  THANK YOU!

 Click on the following link to download a form http://legacy.grandforksherald.com/pdfs/SANTACLAUSGIRLS%20FORMr1.pdf

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Donations update as of 12/9/12

Thank you to the following people and organizations that have donated to the Santa Claus Girls! Your generous donations of time & money make this very successful program possible!

RML Trading, LLC   $1,000

In Memory of Burnett & Ronald Mohn by Bernice Mohn  $25

Ann M. Buckley  $5

Shirley & Derby Emerson  $25

Judy Schroeder  $20

In Memory of Byron Amundson by Lorraine Amundson  $25

In Honor of my grandchildren; Justin, Greg, Jana, Phil, Michael & Katie by Marion Smith  $50

Anonymous  $100

Larry & Janet Eickman  $30

South Forks Lions Club  $50

Jerry & Joan Reinhardt  $10

Sasha Hruska  $10

Dorothy Rollefstad  $25

Truman & Judy Brattel  $25

In Memory of Bruce Marynik by Mike & Casey Black  $25

In Memory of my darling husband, Edward Austin by Rita Austin  $25

In Loving Memory of Chester Hanson &  Robert Eliason by Lenora Hanson   $10

Brenda & Steve Johnson  $20

Coen & Lyla Arndt  $20

In Memory of our parents; Joe & Frances Mozinski and Frank & Nettie Vonasek by Gerald & Mary Mozinski  $25

Ben & Lori Jensen  $25

Debra Wilson  $20

Bob & Sue Kerr  $25

Dennis & Jane McGrath  $25

Kate Naseweiss  $15

In Memory of our parents; Vernon & Florence Quern by Darryl Quern, Vaugn Quern and Gayle Gjovik  $100

Don & Bonnie Vonasek  $35

In Memory of Gerald & Marjorie Green by Barbara Kjemhus  $25

In Memory of Cindy Green by Barbara Kjemhus  $25

DONATIONS TOTAL AS OF 12/9/12  $4,208.00

Goal $15,000

Donations may be sent to Santa Claus Girls, Grand Forks Herald, Box 6008, Grand Forks, ND 58206-6008 We have included a form you can download and print out to send in with your donation.

Click on the following link to download a form http://legacy.grandforksherald.com/pdfs/SANTACLAUSGIRLS%20FORMr1.pdf

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Who are the Santa Claus Girls?

Who are the Santa Claus Girls and what do they do?  With this blog you will learn more about this group of volunteers and the wonderful things they do each year.  We will also feature names of those from the community who have contributed monetary donations.

For this post, I’d like to share with you an article on the history of the Santa Claus Girls written by Brandi Jewett, a Herald staff writer.  The article was published Nov 24, 2011 in the Grand Forks Herald.

Gifts from Santa’s Girls, Charity hopes to raise $15,000

By Brandi Jewett, Herald Staff Writer

Herald File Photo:  Pictured at a working session from days gone by are some past members of the Santa Claus Girls. From left are Roberta Bertram, Ruth Christenson, C.C. Orr, Mrs. Charles Prazak, Mrs. Arthur Bakken, Mrs. William Weisser, Mable Guy, Mrs. Fred O’Neil, Mrs. Victor Chase, Mrs. H.H. Matt, Mrs. S.L. Lyons, president, Mrs. Leonard Driscoll, Mrs. I. A. Osmundson, Mrs. R.R. Mercy and Mrs. Walter Kuta.

After nearly 100 years, Grand Forks’ oldest charity is still providing toys to families in need.

Santa Claus Girls, founded in 1916 by Herald employees, creates gift bags for community children using donations contributed by the newspaper’s readers.

“Originally, many gifts were made by the women of the Herald and other community volunteers,” Anita Geffre, the Herald’s finance director and president of Santa Claus Girls. “Mittens, stockings, doll dresses and other items were sewn and the women would meet once a week to work on items.”

Charitable origins

Santa Claus Girls was created during World War I. During its first year, the organization received $270.23 in donations, which was used to give more than 300 children homemade presents.

Last year Santa Claus Girls gave gift bags to more than 700 children from about 300 families.

Once the items are purchased they will be packed and delivered to families on Dec. 9, Geffre said.

Families can also pick up their gift bags at the Herald.

Though employees are the primary gift packers, members of the community also assist. “I think it’s something that’s part of their Christmas tradition,” Geffre said. Geffre said.

The organization hopes to meet its goal of $15,000 this year. Names of children are submitted by Head Start, schools, churches and community members, and each nominated child receives a gift bag stuffed with goodies, Geffre said.

“We pack and deliver a package containing, socks,  gloves, candy, a book, a toothbrush and a toy for each child,” she said.

Donations can be sent to Santa Claus Girls, Grand Forks Herald, PO Box 6008, Grand Forks, ND 58206-6008  We have included a form you can download and print out to send in with your donation. 

Click on the following link to download a form http://legacy.grandforksherald.com/pdfs/SANTACLAUSGIRLS%20FORMr1.pdf

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Donations update 12/5/12

Thank you to the following people and organizations that have donated to the Santa Claus Girls! Your generous donations of time & money make this very successful program possible!

Sue Senger  $40

Joyce E. Miller  $20

Vivian C. Finnie  $25

R.J. Reinertson  $25

Rod & Bonnie Thompson  $100

In Memory of Gert Driscoll, former Santa Claus Girl by Adele Driscoll  $25

Northern Valley Labor Council, AFL-CIO  $200

Sarah Circle – Augustana Lutheran Church  $50

In Memory of Sterling & Myrtle Peterson, C.L. “Bud” & Delores Linfoot by Doug & Patti Peterson  $25

Mark & Fern Wood $25

In Memory of Willard “Bill” Coss by Natalie Coss  $25

Pat & Patti King  $30

In Memory of my dear son, Nathan Hageman with love by Donna Trosen $100

Margaret Sondreal  $25

Billie Dixon  $100

John & Joyce Kramer  $25

North Dakota Dames  $25

In Memory of Peter Kuchan, Jr. by Laura Foss  $10

Mary B. Mannes  $20

DONATIONS TOTAL TO DATE  $2,388.00

Goal $15,000

Donations may be sent to Santa Claus Girls, Grand Forks Herald, Box 6008, Grand Forks, ND 58206-6008 We have included a form you can download and print out to send in with your donation.

Click on the following link to download a form http://legacy.grandforksherald.com/pdfs/SANTACLAUSGIRLS%20FORMr1.pdf

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