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Christmas concert
Sometimes 8 will present the concert “Sing We Now of Christmas” at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at Lewiston-Altura High School gymnasium. Special guests are Ron Haugen, Christian Crossings and Fab Six. Monetary donations will be collected, with proceeds going to cancer charities and the Lewiston-Altura High School Scholarship Program.
Sharing tree
Altura State Bank of Altura, Minn., is sponsoring a sharing tree. Bring unwrapped items for children and adults to the bank by Dec. 12. Mittens and gloves are especially needed this year. For more information, call (507) 796-6761.
Goodfellows fund
The Winona Daily News’ Goodfellows fund helps parents buy winter clothing for their children. Contributions can be made to Winona Goodfellows Fund, Winona Daily News, P.O. Box 5147, Winona, MN 55987. For more information, call the Daily News at (507) 453-3500.
Gifts for Winona
Giving trees have been placed throughout Winona for the seventh annual Saint Mary’s University’s Gifts for Winona campaign, which provides presents to less fortunate families. Trees with tags showing gift wishes can be found at the three Sinclair stations, the Winona Public Library, Scrapper’s Haven, the Winona Post, Affinity Plus and the three Wells Fargo locations in Winona and Security Bank in Lewiston, Minn. Those who wish to give should take as many tags as they can fulfill and return the gifts by Dec. 12. The recommended amount for gifts is $30 per person. Any organization or group that would like to help 10 or more people should call the (507) 457-8719 as soon as possible.
December blood drives
The Winona County Red Cross will host five blood drives in December. To make an appointment, call (507) 452-4258. The schedule is:
Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots is collecting toys through Dec. 7 to distribute to area children. Donations can be dropped off in marked barrels at various locations in Winona, including the Harley-Davidson shop, both Midtown Foods locations, HyVee, ShopKo, Kmart and HBC Cable. Distribution begins Dec. 13 at the former location of the Machine Shed store in the Winona Mall.
Parade of Lights
Associated Bank will present its annual Christmas Wonderland Parade of Lights at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, in Rushford, Minn. There will be visits with Santa, hot chocolate, cider, cookies and caroling at the Rushford Fire Station. Monetary donations will be collected for the Semcac Food Shelf. Everyone is welcome to be in the parade; to sign up or for more information, call (507) 864-7744. Send donations by mail to Semcac, P.O. Box 549, Rushford, MN 55971.
House of hospitality
The Winona Catholic Worker has two houses of hospitality, one for single men and one for single women. In addition to providing meals and rooms to guests, the organization runs a small food pantry and hosts open dinners for members of the greater community. During the holiday season, the need to support guests increases. Food (especially easy-to-prepare items and supplies such as cooking oil) as well as toiletries, cleaning supplies, hats, mittens, long underwear, blankets and pillows can always be used. Call, mail or deliver contributions to the Dan Corcoran House, 802 W. Broadway, Winona, MN 55987, or Bethany House, 832 W. Broadway, Winona, MN 55987. For more information, call 457-3451 or 454-8094.
10 Days of Giving kicks off Monday
The 20th annual 10 Days of Giving campaign, Dec. 1-10, is a communitywide food collection to help stock the Emergency and Supplemental Food Shelf programs operated for Winona County by Winona Volunteer Services and the Southeastern Minnesota Rural Education and Resource Center in St. Charles. A kickoff ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. Monday at the downtown Merchants Bank.
Drop off nonperishable food items at any Merchants Bank in Winona, Goodview or St. Charles or in the collection barrel at any Winona-area school or participating business. Monetary contributions also are accepted. Food items most needed include canned fish or meat, canned fruit, canned fruit juices, canned soups, hot and cold cereals, peanut butter, pasta and rice, spaghetti sauces, low-salt and low-fat canned foods, and boxed meal starters such as Hamburger Helper and Tuna Helper.
About 30 area schools and child care centers and more than 80 area businesses will participate in this year’s campaign, which added 91,588 pounds of food to the Winona County Food Shelf last year. The 19-year collection total is more than 1,096,500 pounds. The following events benefit the 10 Days of Giving food drive:
Canadian Pacific Railways Holiday Train
The Canadian Pacific Railways Holiday Train will stop at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, at the Amtrak Station, 65 E. Mark St., as part of the 10 Days of Giving food drive. Donations of money and nonperishable food will be accepted, and Canadian Pacific Railway will present a check for the local food bank. This year’s entertainers include Shaun Verreault, the virtuosic singer/guitarist/ songwriter for Canadian blues-rockers Wide Mouth Mason, and Juno award-winning singer and songwriter Melanie Doane. Since the holiday train program began in 1999, almost $3.56 million and 1.8 million pounds of food have been collected.
Lighted parade
The Holiday Lighted Parade will start at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, in downtown Goodview on Sixth Street. Lighted and decorated barrels will be placed along the parade route from 40th to 44th avenues. Paradegoers are encouraged to bring donations of nonperishable food items to benefit 10 Days of Giving. Christmas cookies and hot chocolate will be served by Merchants Bank staff at the park on 44th Avenue and Ninth Street. Monetary contributions can be given to Merchants employees.
Breakfast with Santa
Children can have breakfast with Santa between 9 and 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at the downtown Merchants Bank. Families are asked to bring a $5 donation per person to benefit 10 Days of Giving. Activities include face painting, coloring and pictures with Santa.
Concert for the Hungry
The Winona State University Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Chamber Orchestra will give its eighth annual Holiday Concert for the Hungry at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, on WSU’s Performing Arts Center Main Stage. The concert will feature a variety of holiday music performed by the WSU Chamber Orchestra, directed by Paul Vance, and the WSU Symphonic Wind Ensemble, directed by Donald Lovejoy. Admission is a nonperishable food item or cash donation to benefit 10 Days of Giving. For more information, call Lovejoy at (507) 457-5257.
Travelin’ Shoes Gospel Choir concert
Travelin’ Shoes will give a Gospel Choir Concert at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Winona State University Performing Arts Center. The group is a 55-member, all-volunteer community choir under the leadership of Dave Zahn. Donations will be collected during the concert to benefit 10 Days of Giving.
Lewiston food collection
The Winona County 4-H Exchange Group will be collecting canned goods to benefit 10 Days of Giving from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Lewiston Craft and Gift Show, held at the Lewiston Community Center, 75 Rice St., Lewiston. For more information about the show, call Terry Schell at (507) 523-2406.
