Christmas for Kids Inc. serving the Nisswa, Pequot Lakes, Breezy Point, Lake Shore and Merrifield areas helped make Christmas bright for 100 children in 40 families this year.
Volunteers showed up Thursday, Dec. 16, to help wrap gifts for all those kids and families at the Nisswa Community Center. In addition to the festively wrapped presents, families picked up holiday meal makings donated by Schaefer’s Foods in Nisswa.
Families picked up their gifts and meals Saturday, Dec. 18, at the community center.
Cheryl Jacobson and Cindi Fyle took over as co-chairs of this program in recent years. While it’s a lot of work, they’re happy to be helping families in need during the holidays.
In addition to those who donated gifts and money, Pequot Lakes Middle School students raised money during a Penny Wars event. Student council representatives used that money to buy gifts for Christmas for kids.
1/2: Allie Olson, left, and Megan Morgan, both of Pequot Lakes, wrap gifts for the Christmas for Kids program Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, at the Nisswa Community Center. Nancy Vogt / Echo Journal
2/2: Pequot Lakes Middle School Student Council representatives shopped for gifts for the Christmas for Kids organization with money raised through the school's Penny Wars. Contributed (December 2021)
Nancy Vogt is editor of the Pineandlakes Echo Journal, a weekly newspaper that covers eight communities in the Pequot Lakes-Pine River areas - from Nisswa to Hackensack and Pequot Lakes to Crosslake.
She started as editor of the Lake Country Echo in July 2006, and continued in that role when the Lake Country Echo and the Pine River Journal combined in September 2013 to become the Pineandlakes Echo Journal. She worked for the Brainerd Dispatch from 1992-2006 in various roles.
She covers Nisswa, Pequot Lakes, Lake Shore and Crosslake city councils, as well as writes feature stories, news stories and personal columns (Vogt's Notes). She also takes photos at community events.
Contact her at nancy.vogt@pineandlakes.com or 218-855-5877 with story ideas or questions. Be sure to leave a voicemail message!