HOT PURSUIT
Two events over the past few weeks brought out the Christmas spirit to make this year’s holiday season shine for others.
The first was Shop with Cop held at the Target store in Owatonna in mid-November. Sheriff Lon Thiele has been coordinating the effort, along with the Salvation Army, which he also serves as its chairperson, for at least the past 10 years.
This year, sheriff’s deputies and police officers partnered up with 24 area children to buy them each $225 of gifts totaling $5,400. Thiele said the gift total was increased this year because of rising costs. “We didn’t want to back down on the number of gifts,” he said.
“It’s always a great opportunity to give back to the unfortunate ones that can’t afford gifts,” Thiele said. “They are smiles from ear to ear when they know they are getting gifts for themselves and other family members.”
In addition to Target helping with the event, Subway and Starbucks provided meals and hot chocolate to warm the spirits of children along with all the gifts they got to pick out.
Another event bringing joy to the season was KRUE-Oke, a karaoke venture sponsored by Owatonna’s KRUE Country at Sparetime Entertainment. It’s the first time the radio station held such an event, which also featured an ugly sweater contest. The winning sweater was homemade with garland and decorations glued to it.
KRUE radio personality Brad Kubat said about 70 people showed up for the event with Tim Fitzgerald of Hope leading karaoke. At least half of those in attendance sang mostly songs of the season. “We encouraged Christmas songs and went through all the classics,” Kubat said.
The local station also encouraged guests to bring cans of soup for Community Pathways of Steele County. Soup was pouring in even after the event. On the next afternoon, a generous person stopped by KRUE to donate 50 cans of soup, Kubat said.
Kubat said their main purpose was to create a joyous holiday season for others. “If someone is struggling to get into the holiday spirit, an event like this is responsible for getting them into the holiday spirit,” he said. “It’s always nice to get people together to have fun and cut loose.”
Holiday spirit is alive in Steele County as evidenced by these two organizations going in hot pursuit of making the holidays festive for all.
