That’s A Wrap on Christmas In Mitchell
The Christmas spirit is strong with the FS PARTNERS, UPI Energy FS and Great Lakes Grain staff in Mitchell this season. Today, they delivered over 100 presents to support those less fortunate in the Mitchell and Stratford on Christmas Day. In 2018, 554 children received Christmas presents through the Stratford House of Blessing, and the FS Team is hoping to help increase that number this year. Some are specially marked for certain families, while others will fill gaps for children ranging from one to 14!
Organizer Jodi Shackleton, UPI Energy FS Sales and Service Coordinator comments: “It feels great to see the spirit in not only our staff, but also our customers! While not everyone has ventured to the Mitchell order window, we have even received cash donations towards presents and food. Everyone is getting in to it, and we are grateful for staff and customer participation in a year where it’s needed the most. We have well exceed our initial plans of donating a few gifts this year.”
In previous years, the branch has supported families in different ways, but 2020 has really reinforced the need for giving. Some presents support specific families and their wish list through the Salvation Army. The FS team has even included some gifts for the mothers that may have otherwise been left out. Food collected will be donated to both the Salvation Army, and the House of Blessing Foodbank. All other coats, clothes and toys collected will be distributed through the House of Blessing Toy Drive and families registered in the assistance program.
FS PARTNERS Mitchell Branch Manager Larry Hale adds: “This is the first year that Mitchell has really gone big like this. We are fortunate to be an essential service, have a great team, and to keep providing agronomy, energy and grain marketing products and services to our local customer base all year long. If it wasn’t a COVID year, we wouldn’t have had the floor space to collect so many donations. But because our front foyer remains locked, we could really grow it. We are very proud of our accomplishments!”
