Redwood Falls Share the Spirit Announces 2020 COVID-19 Changes

The Board of Directors had a plan for 2020 and thought it was moving along well. However, we met Tuesday, November 24, to make decisions concerning how the most resent COVID Restrictions and increased risk to volunteers and families will affect this year’s event. Several decisions were made:

1. The Fruit Basket program will focus on notes of encouragement that can be mailed rather then volunteers delivering fruit baskets to the door. We plan to return to fruit baskets next year.

2. Toy/Gift Donations: We cannot risk exposing volunteers and the public to the risk of collection and distributing toys/ gift items as in the past. Literally 100’s of items and a multitude of individuals come into and then go out of the Armory each year for this program. There is no safe way to handle this during the COVID pandemic. We are extremely humbled by and grateful for the number of people who shop and deliver gifts for distribution to families each year and we hope to return to this part of the program for 2021. We have a plan to support the families that applied this year but we cannot include face to face gift collections/distributions. We hope you will understand.

3. Financial Donations: Since we can’t accept items face to face, we need additional financial support, if you can donate, mail checks to Redwood Share the Spirit, PO Box 445, Redwood Falls, MN 56283. Come into and then go out of the Armory each year for this program. There is no safe way to handle this during the COVID pandemic. We are extremely humbled by and grateful for the number of people who shop and deliver gifts for distribution to families each year and we hope to return to this part of the program in 2021. We have a plan to support the families that applied this year but we cannot include face-to-face gift collections/distributions. We hope you will understand.

4. Applications: Applications were due November 20th. Families who applied will receive a confirmation letter with their appointed time and instructions for distribution.

5. Financial Donations: Since we can’t accept items face to face, we need additional financial support, if you are able to donate, mail checks to Redwood Share the Spirit, PO Box 445, Redwood Falls, MN 56283

6. Items already collected: Toys and items that have been collected by organizations can be accepted. Call 507-430-5229 to discuss delivery. However please discontinue further collections for this year.

7. Volunteers: Thank you to the many individuals who have offered to volunteer time for this year’s event. You are so appreciated by us and so important. This year we ask that you stay home, stay well and return to us as volunteers in 2021. We are using a very small team of volunteers this year.