You may need extra help this season or you might have something to give. This guide includes ways to receive or donate to local toy drives, angel trees, community meals, food shelf donations and more in 2020.
Special thanks to all the volunteers and businesses that make our season brighter.
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TOY DRIVES AND DONATIONS
Waconia Toy Drive will be collecting toys at local businesses until Monday, November 30, 2020. All gift donations for children ages infant through 18 years must be new and unwrapped. The gift choosing day and location will be announced soon.
Donations may be dropped off at Waconia businesses during regular hours at;
- American Family Insurance Agency
- Children of Tomorrow
- Everson's Hardware Hank
- Hometown Bank
- Mackenthun's Fine Foods
- Mainstream Boutique
- MidCountry Bank
- Mystic Fortress Games
- Old National Bank
- Regarding Dentistry
- Safari Island Community Center
- SNAP Fitness
- Trending Upward Thrift Shoppe
- Waconia Brewing Company
- Waconia City Hall
- Waconia Ice Arena
VFW in Chaska will be collecting Toys for Tots. Donations are needed for all ages 0-18. Donations can be made at local businesses during regular hours. Donations are needed before December 11, 2020.
If you would like to register to receive you can sign up online. Pick up date for Chaska is set for Dec 13, 2020 from 10am-3pm. Please note this could change due to the pandemic.
There is an extra need for teen gifts, a few ideas are earbuds, bath sets, movies, board games, makeup, arts and crafts.
- TGK Auto in Chanhassen
- Subway in Victoria
- Coopers
- VFW Chaska
- Cuzzys Brickhouse
- Crown of Glory Church
- Chaska Laundry Center
- Cy's Bar & Grill
- Heartbreakers
- Carver Junk Company
- Chaska Community Center
- Revive Nutrition
- Southwest Eye Care
- Farmers Insurance - Greg Cummins Agency
- Fitness First
- Chaska Curling Center
- State Farm Insurance - Andrew Petkoff Agency
- Security Bank & Trust Co
- Charter Bank (both locations)
- Dolce Vita Wine Shoppe
- Lake Country Insurance Services - Victor Ramirez
- Upgrade Nutrition in Chaska
VFW in Chaska is located at 620 Creek Road Chaska, MN 55318 Follow Chaska Santa on Facebook for more updates.
Parkside Church is working with Love INC for those in need this holiday season. If you are in need of help this Christmas, you contact Love INC at (952) 448-3261.
The Joy Jam will take place on December 20, 2020 - They will set up a registry that you can purchase gifts or you can make a monetary donation. Purchases must be completed by December 12, 2020. Volunteers are also needed to help organize, wrap and deliver gifts. Learn more about sign up on their website.
COMMUNITY MEALS AND FOOD PACKING
St. John's Lutheran Church offers a Free Community Meal for everyone on Mondays from 5:15-6:15 PM. Meals are packaged for drive-thru pickup.
Community Meals are volunteer-run and always looking for more help. Contact the church for more information on how to help.
St. John's Lutheran Church is located at 300 E 4th St, Chaska, MN 55318 (952) 448-2433
Feed My Starving Children in Chanhassen, MN needs volunteers to hand-pack meals that are sent to children around the world. New safety measures are in place and a reservation is required to pack. No walk-ins can be accepted. The minimum volunteer age is currently eight and the volunteer group size is limited to five people.
Two-hour sessions are open Monday - Saturday starting at 9AM and ending at 8PM.
Feed My Starving Children is located at 18732 Lake Drive East Chanhassen, MN 55317
Website (952) 937-2329 Chanhasseninfo@fmsc.org
ANGEL TREES AND DIRECT DONATIONS
Off The Top Hairstyling in Waconia has an angel tree and if you are in need of gifts. Email your name, phone number, gender, age and a few gift items for each person. The deadline for requests is 11/30/2020. Email Shawnaoffthetop@gmail.com to be added to the tree.
If you would like to help after December 1, 2020 you can stop in Off The Top Hairstyling and pick an angel and purchase a gift for that child. Regular hours are Monday - Thursday 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM, Friday 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Saturday 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM and Closed on Sundays.
Off The Top Hairstyling is located at 9364 Oak Ave, Suite A, Waconia, MN 55387. Website (952) 442-1777
COAT AND WINTER GEAR COLLECTION
Chaska Community Center will be collecting New and Gently Used; Coats, Snowpants, Boots, Scarves, Hats and Gloves. Items can be dropped of at the Community Center or Curling Center from November 5-23, 2020.
Items can be dropped off during regular hours Monday-Friday 5am - 9pm, Saturday 6am - 4pm, Closed on Sundays.
Chaska Community Center is located at 1661 Park Ridge Drive Chaska, MN 55318 (952) 448-5633
FOOD SHELF DONATION
Bountiful Basket is a Food Shelf helping families in Carver, Chanhassen, Chaska, & Victoria.
If you are in need you can call (952) 556-0244 to schedule an appointment.
Food can be donated during open hours.
- Monday – 9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m
- Tuesday – 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
- Wednesday – 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
- Thursday – Closed
- Friday – 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
- First and Third Saturday of each month 9 a.m. – Noon
There are many ways to volunteer, food pick up, client assistance, front desk and food warehouse. Visit website for more information and available oppertunities.
Bountiful Basket is located at 1600 Bavaria Road, Chaska, MN 55318 (952) 556-0244
Waconia United Food Shelf, serving residents in Waconia, Victoria, New Germany, St. Bonifacius, and Cologne, MN.
If you are in need of assistance, you can register and shop on the same day.
Hours are Monday, Saturday: 9:00am–11:45am and Tuesday, Thursday: 4:00pm–6:45pm. Closed on Holidays.
Donations are always needed as well as volunteers. Visit website for current needs.
Waconia United Food Shelf is located at 11 South Elm Street, Waconia, MN 55387 (952) 442-3878
Friends For Life Food Shelf in Watertown, MN.
Donations can be dropped off Monday evenings from 6 to 8 pm and by appointment Tuesday and Friday mornings from 9 am to noon.
If you're interested in volunteering or have needs you can make an appointment by calling the food shelf at (952) 955-1980.
Friends For Life Food Shelf is located at 309 Lewis Avenue South, Watertown, MN 55388 (952) 955-1980
Southwest Carver County Food Shelf in Norwood Young America, MN.
Hours are Tuesdays- 12:30-6:15 pm and First Saturday of the month- 10:00 am-12:00 pm.
Southwest Carver County Food Shelf is located at 10 First Avenue NE, Norwood Young America (952) 467-1870
PROP (People Reaching Out to People) Offers food programs to Eden Prairie and Chanhassen residents.
Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday, 9:30-1:00pm and Wednesday, 4pm-6:30pm.
PROP is located at 14700 Martin Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344 (952) 937-9120
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
St. John’s Lutheran Church in Norwood Young America, MN will be collecting shoebox gifts for Operation Christmas child.
These gifts, along with Gospel storybooks, will be distributed to needy children throughout the world.
How YOU Can Be Involved:
- Find an empty shoebox or small plastic container
- Determine if your gift will be for a boy or girl, and the child’s age group (2-4, 5-9, or 10-14)
- Fill the box with gifts such as school supplies, toys hygiene items, candy, etc.
- A suggested donation of $9 included with your box is appreciated to help cover shipping costs
- Curbside drop-off at St. John’s Lutheran church in NYA
Volunteers will be collecting gifts at St. John’s Lutheran Church 101 SE 2nd Street Norwood Young America, MN 55397
- Monday, Nov. 16, 2020 - Friday, Nov. 20, 2020 from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020 from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
- Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020 from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
- Monday, Nov. 23, 2020 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Please note: we will be unable to accept boxes after this date.
More information (952) 467-2740 or www.stjohnsnya.org/
*Please note times and in person, volunteering could change without notice, due to the pandemic.
Macaroni Kid Carver is a free weekly newsletter and website focused on fun family events and information in Carver County, MN. We gather together all kinds of local family events and kid activities each week, and add useful information about classes, family-focused businesses, product reviews, recipes, crafts, school and camp guides and more. We proudly serve families in Carver, Chaska, Chanhassen, Waconia, Norwood-Young America, Victoria, Watertown, Mayer, New Germany and Hamburg, Minnesota.
We are still working on this list and if you know of a great place to donate please send an email to Jamies@macaronikid.com.
