To the editor:

Operation Christmas/ Church Women United provided its annual tradition of a Merry Christmas to 500 families of Webster County this year.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the entire community of Fort Dodge. Our challenge to find a space in 2015 was great but once again the Crossroads Mall/Larry Jessen helped us with two locations to operate. It worked well and we appreciate the cooperation and support.

Many thanks to all volunteers who helped in many ways and gave many hours of hard work, sorting and arranging donations, filled boxes with food, clothing, toys and health care products. Churches and organizations gave quilts, hats, mittens, scarves and gifts. Without you none of this would be possible.

Operation Christmas says a special thanks to the men who volunteered every day bringing in donations and making boxes, Radio Group for promoting and collecting Bikes for Tykes, Noon Sertoma for picking up and returning tables, Mike Bass for truck and trailer, Golden K’s for taking racks and tables down, Daybreak Rotary for helping with deliveries and working the food line. Thanks to Millennium Ministry for Christ/Mike Craig and White Transfer and Storage/Denny Stucky for delivery trucks and drivers, Dale’s Petroleum for pick up of Toys for Tots in Des Moines, Rabiner boys who carried boxes to set up delivery routes, St. Edmond students for setting up toys, helping with health care project, Fort Dodge Middle School students for breaking down boxes and carryouts. Many thanks to Community Orchard for the generous donation of apples, to White Transfer and Storage for storing and moving of equipment over the past several years, Pedersen Sanitation for furnishing dumpsters and to Citizens Community Credit Union for lunch provided to our volunteers on the final day.

A very special “thank you” to the “Secret Santa” who stopped by the mall location to give us a generous donation. We appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Many expressions of “thank yous” were heard from grateful recipients on Dec. 18, 2015.

Operation Christmas wishes a Happy New Year to a generous and caring community. You are amazing. Blessings to all.

Ruth Reed

Gwen Anderson

Co-chairs

Marilyn Savage

Treasurer

Operation Christmas/Church Women United

Fort Dodge