Dodge County shows its generosity

Even though the holiday season for many doesn’t officially begin until Thanksgiving, already Dodge County residents are showing just how generous they can be during this time of year.
Kasson-Mantorville residents turned out on November 7 to help the Care & Share organization raise funds to help those who could use a little help during the holidays and throughout the year.
The annual fundraising event, which included a meal, silent auction and live auction brought in a little more than $50,000, according to Care & Share board member Jenny Carrier. About 200 people donated to the meal and more than 100 items were donated to the auctions.
The November auction is always Care & Share’s primary fundraising event of the year. In addition to helping those who can use a little help during the holiday season, Care & Share also helps people in need throughout the year. Carrier said last year 52 families and 134 children were helped during the holiday season and an additional 43 people at other times during the year.
Going back a bit farther, on the weekend before Halloween the Haunted Hustle 5k and Family Fun Run held during the Mantorville Fall Festival saw 161 register for the two events which resulted in Dodge Refreshed awarding $2,000 to Kasson Head Start and $2,000 to Hayfield Early Childhood Education.
Then on Nov. 2, the Salvation Army held its annual winter wear distribution at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Kasson.
That event resulted in about 45 families coming through and being able to pick out winter wear, said Tanya Young of Dodge County Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army’s familiar Red Kettles are also located at HyVee in Kasson, Hardware Hank in Kasson and Sunshine Foods in Dodge Center. Other businesses in the county have red counter kettles available for donations.
There is another event coming up to raise funds for the local Salvation Army at The Green Shack in Dodge Center on Dec. 13, 14, 20 and 21.
Between now and Christmas more opportunities to help will include Toys for Tots collections and various Sharing Trees. On Saturday, Dec. 7, Grace Methodist Church Women will have their annual Jul Bazaar. Among the events scheduled for the event is Granny’s Attic with all proceeds going to Hurricane Relief.
Several other churches have also participated in the Operation Christmas Child program.
There are certainly other activities under way too.
In short, local residents are definitely generous and willing to help others, both locally and throughout the world.
And that, not just the twinkling lights and displays and shopping frenzy, along with the religious aspects is what Christmas is all about.