Saint Mary’s University Gifts for Winona application deadline is Nov. 20
WINONA, Minn. – Anyone who needs help obtaining holiday gifts for their family should pick up a Saint Mary’s University Gifts for Winona application through one of the human service agencies that they work with (Catholic Charities, Family Services of Winona, Habitat for Humanity, Housing and Redevelopment Authority, Project FINE, Semcac, Winona Area Hospice, Winona Area Learning Center, Winona County Community Health, Winona County Department of Human Services, Winona Senior Advocacy Program, Winona Volunteer Services, Winona Workforce Center or Women’s Resource Center).
Winona County families affected by the flood should contact the Long-Term Flood Recovery Center at 452-1088.
The deadline for applying is Tuesday, Nov. 20.
Giving trees will be going up Nov. 19 for the communitywide program, which provides gifts to less fortunate families during the holiday season. Tags, each labeled with a different person’s holiday gift wishes, will be placed on area giving trees beginning next week.
Trees will be located at: the three Sinclair Stations, the Winona Public Library, Scrapper’s Haven, as well as all three Wells Fargo Bank locations in Winona.
Individuals who want to help make someone's season a littler merrier should visit one of these locations, take as many tags off the trees as they wish, and return the gifts by Dec. 13 to the tree where they obtained the tag. The recommended amount for holiday gifts is approximately $30 per person. Tags should be securely taped to the outside of the presents.
As the gift distribution is early this year — mid December — the community is asked to begin their season of giving early as well.
Through the generosity of the Winona-area community, this program assisted 1,413 people last year. Other partners include United Way of the Greater Winona Area, Wells Fargo Bank, Winona Post, Winona Radio, and Winona Volunteer Services.
Any organization or group that wishes to help 10 or more people should call the “Gifts for Winona” line at (507) 457-8719 as soon as possible.
