The organizers of Community Thread’s Holiday Hope program are going back to the basics of providing toys for children in need in the Stillwater area.
Holiday Hope will provide individually chosen new and unwrapped gifts for children ages birth to grade 12 facing financial hardship in the Stillwater Area School District. The program’s geographic boundaries previously included Oakdale, Landfall and parts of Woodbury not included in the school district’s boundaries.
As of Friday, more than 300 families had already registered for Holiday Hope, said Cathleen Hess, the nonprofit organization’s development and communications director.
“With everything happening in the world right now and in this country … I think people are feeling a squeeze,” Hess said. “But we live in a giving community. The St. Croix Valley typically steps up when they’re able, when there’s a need, and people are willing to help.”
In 2024, Holiday Hope served 3,013 individuals, including 1,723 children – a record number, Hess said.
Community Thread is collecting new and unwrapped gifts valued at $15 or more for children ages birth to grade 12. Suggested gifts include toys, age-appropriate books (picture and chapter), arts and crafts kits, science kits, room decor for teens, Lego sets, sports memorabilia and sports jerseys.
Instead of giving out gift cards and holiday meals to families, older adults and adults with disabilities this year, Holiday Hope will be distributing Cub grocery gift cards and a grocery product to the organization’s Thrive Program participants – older adults and adults with disabilities – who receive free or reduced-priced memberships, Hess said.
Donations may be dropped off at Community Thread or any local Holiday Hope Collection Site by Dec. 12.
For more information, go to www.CommunityThreadMN.org/Holiday.
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