• • Lakefield Standard

Wishes for gifts like baby dolls, action figures, board games and the movie Bolt may come true this Christmas for Jackson County children whose living room trees may have otherwise been pretty bare.

Those hopes are hanging on the Angel Tree program of Western Community Action, and community members across the county are stepping up to deliver a little holiday cheer.

“This county is wonderful,” said Michelle Kompelien, an organizer of the program. “People are very generous and they make it happen.”

In its countywide debut last year, Angel Tree served 216 children and this year the count was already up to 262 as of Monday — with many among the increased number new to the assistance.

“It’s one of my favorite programs to do,” Kompelien said. “For the most part, people are very grateful. The holidays put added strain on an already stressed budget and people are very happy, very thankful for the gifts they get.”

Eligible families are invited to submit their child’s clothing size and three wishes to help a community member, business or organization shop for the $20-or-less gifts, though there are no guarantees. The project is supported 100 percent by community donations.

Participating donors can adopt a child for the holiday, purchase and donate gifts to be matched up with unadopted recipients, give a monetary donation for the purchase of gifts or volunteer to pick up, pack or distribute the gifts.

Gifts can be dropped off at a number of Jackson area businesses, including Bank Midwest, United Prairie Bank, Family Dollar, Curves, Accent, T-Care, Farmers and Merchants State Bank of Alpha, Historic State Theatre, Western Community Action, Livewire Printing Co. and Jackson Chiropractic.

Gifts should be dropped off by Dec. 15 and donation checks should be made out to Angel Tree and mailed to Western Community Action, Attn: Michelle Kompelien, P.O. Box 207, Jackson, MN 56143.

Families interested in registering for inclusion in the program can still visit the WCA office or call 847-2632, ext. 2.

Parents agree to participate in only one gift-giving assistance program and will be able to pick up the unwrapped gifts for their children Dec. 22 in Jackson, Lakefield or Heron Lake.

“I think it’s going to go a lot smoother this time,” Kompelien said of the countywide effort.