Operation Santa, Love Tree Brighten Holidays For Mills County Families

Applications are being accepted until Friday, Nov. 13, for the Operation Santa program.

Operation Santa is intended for Mills County families experiencing financial need. Families applying should generally meet the financial guidelines used for income-based assistance programs, such as free or reduced-price school meals.

Applications for Operation Santa must be picked up and completed at the Mills County Storehouse in Glenwood by Nov. 13. Applicants do not need to currently be using the Storehouse pantry.

Applicants will receive a phone call to schedule an appointment for Nov. 20 or Nov. 21. At the appointment, the applicant will be able to shop at the Mills County Storehouse’s Christmas pop-up store at the American Legion Hall in Glenwood. The store will be stocked with new and gently-used items for children.

Families will also receive gift cards to shop for additional Christmas gifts for their children.

Individuals, families and organizations wanting to support Operation Santa can make a financial donation through the Mills County Storehouse Venmo and put “Operation Santa” in the note.

Gift donations – new items for children and teens – can be dropped off at the Mills County Storehouse. Items should be labeled “Operation Santa.”

For additional information about Operation Santa, contact Kori Kenkel at 402-960-2465 or koriwinumkenkel@gmail.com.

Additional information about supporting the Mills County Storehouse is available online at www.millscountystorehouse.org/support.

Operation Santa is one of two holiday season programs in Mills County, along with the Love Tree. Families may participate in Operation Santa or Mills County Love Tree, but not both.

The Love Tree program began Monday, Nov. 9,  and runs through Dec. 11.

There are two parts to the Love Tree - submitting names of children who would benefit from the program and selecting cards from the Love Tree for purchasing gifts.

Submission forms are available at the theater in Glenwood and Malvern Bank. Completed forms should be returned to the same locations.

Individuals, families and organizations wanting to purchase gifts can do so by selecting a card and purchasing gifts on the list, making a monetary donation or purchasing miscellaneous items, such as gift cards, sports items, etc.

Love Tree hours (Nov.9 - Dec. 11) will be Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the theater in Glenwood in and 9 a.m. to - 4 p.m. at the Malvern Bank.

Donations to Love Tree can be mailed to Mills County Love Tree, P.O. Box 125, Glenwood, Iowa, 51534.

For additional information about the program, contact Lana Duysen at lanaduysen@gmail.com.

Love Tree and Operation Santa share the same goal of helping Mills County families provide a special Christmas for their children and giving the community meaningful ways to help local families during the holiday season.