The Cottage Grove Lions Club is making Christmas special for area families.

For the 10th year, the Cottage Grove Lions helped with Christmas gifts and financial help for children, partnering families and veterans with the VWF Post 8752 Red Barn and Mississippi Beyond the Yellow River. The club has been doing the Christmas gift program for 10 years, in cooperation with the Cottage Grove Target store.

The project originally started with a club donation and members personally donating money. Then the club would match an additional amount, matching the member’s donations. Historically, the club gets a list for gifts and needed items from Basic Needs Thrift Shop and Friends in Need Food Shelf and shops and wraps gifts matching the wants and needs of that list.

“This is a wonderful example of our generous supporters throughout the community giving the financial tools to make things happen for those in need. Our community is a better place because of all those that help and work together,” said Lion Doug Rupp.

The club offers a special thanks to the Target team for coordination and expanding the contributions with gift cards.

Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service organization. The Cottage Grove Lions Club adheres to the Lions Club International rule that all monies raised in the community goes back to the community. The club supports area aid organizations and individuals with cash donations and volunteer help. All club administrative expenses and activities for the club itself are funded by its members.

In addition to the groups listed above, the Cottage Grove Lions financially supports area food shelves, homeless youth and family shelters, Boy and Girl Scouts, individuals and families experiencing crisis, disaster or emergency needs, veterans aid groups, high school graduate scholarships and many more.

The club funds are raised through community events like pancake breakfasts, food and beverage sales at city and area festivals, raffles and donations.

In conjunction with Cottage Grove Target and local veterans and organizations, the Cottage Grove Lions Club works annually to make Christmas better for families in need. Photo submitted

Cottage Grove Lions Amanda Turner, Ray Kane of Mississippi River Beyond the Yellow Ribbon and Cottage Grove Lion Jason Johnson filled their carts at Cottage Grove Target. Photo submitted

The cart parade of full products purchased with the help of Cottage Grove Target by the Cottage Grove Lions Club and community organizations. Photo submitted