by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
It was a sunny-bright but nippy-cold morning Nov. 21 when nearly 500 people in a festive spirit took part in the U.S. Marine Corps Central Minnesota Toys for Tots Jingle Bell 1k run and 5k run in Sartell.
Although the final fundraising total wasn’t available at press time, enough money was raised and actual toys delivered to the site to total at least $4,000-worth of toys for children in need.
The 18th annual event took place bright and early outside of sponsor St. Cloud Orthopedics in the Sartell Medical Campus. There were 446 participants in the 5k race and 44 participants, under age 12, in the 1k event. Many participants brought new unwrapped toys, along with entry fees. Santa also made an appearance, cheering on the runners with jolly ho-ho-hos and giving children hugs in the frosty air.
The lion’s share of the runners were from Sartell and St. Cloud, although other area cities were also well represented, with 39 from Sauk Rapids, 17 from Rice, nine from St. Joseph and two from St. Stephen.
All money raised – and toys – will go to children in central Minnesota in time for Christmas. Donations can be made until Dec. 23. To find out more, see “Donations” toward the end of this story.
The times of the two running events Saturday morning were calibrated by timing chips for impeccable accuracy. Awards were presented to the top winners in each category.
The winner of the 5k race was Morcelli Kombo, St. Cloud, with a finish time of 18:04. The first female across the finish line was Kathlyn Stout, 26, Minneapolis, with a time of 20:32.
Second place in the 5k was TJ Benzi, 45, Rogers at 19:03, and third was Bryan Jasperson, 27, Minneapolis, at 19:35. Julia Karls, St. Cloud, who is only 14, finished eighth in the 5k race.
The following were winners in the 1k race:
Girls 9 and under
Brookelyn Kuechle, 9, South Haven. 27:32.
Annabelle Tautges, 9, St. Cloud. 30:37
Boys 9 and under
Riley Luberda, 9, Foley. 30:16
Varner Jones, 8, Annandale. 38:54
Girls 10 to 12
Lauren Opatz, 12, Sartell. 24:54.
Julia Johnson, 12, Sartell. 26:24.
Boys 10 to 12
Andrew Karls, 12, St. Cloud. 24:31.
Callahan Mechelke, 12, Sartell. 24:59.
Donate
There are several ways to donate to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program – online at st-cloud-mn-toysfortots.org, by buying and placing unwrapped toys in the big cardboard boxes at many stores in the area or by bringing new unwrapped toys to Catholic Charities at 157 Roosevelt Road in St. Cloud.
Ninety-seven percent of all money raised in the Toys for Tots program goes to purchase toys, books or other kinds of gifts. Only 3 percent of donations are used for fundraising expenses, not for any salaries. In addition, all funds and toys raised locally go to local children – that is, those who live in central Minnesota.
Catholic Charities distributes the toys to children up to the age of 16. Parents or guardians can register to receive the toys up until Dec. 14. Registration must be done in person at Catholic Charities and those who register should bring an I.D. and proof of address.
Registration hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday, 1-4 p.m. Thursday, and 9 a.m.-noon Friday. The contact person at Catholic Charities is Stephen Titus, 320-420-7180.
The Toys for Tots program gives toys to children in the following cities: Sartell, Sauk Rapids, Rice, St. Joseph, St. Cloud, St. Augusta, Eden Valley, Kimball, Waite Park, Watkins.
Participants
The following runners, in list order from the roster, are those from St. Stephen who took part in the Jingle Bell event. There may have been more, but not every name on the roster listed a city. For runners from Sartell or other communities, head to jinglebellrun.itsyourrace.com and click on ‘Results.’
St. Stephen: Melanie Neubauer and Deanna Helback.
Like a peek-a-boo Christmas elf, Quentin Sigurdson, Sartell, peeks from a Toys for Tots collection box the morning of Nov. 21 during the Toys for Tots Jingle Bell 1k and 5k runs in the Medical Campus of Sartell. The event, as in years before, was sponsored by St. Cloud Chiropractic, in the lobby of which this photo was taken. Quentin and his brother, Talon, volunteered at the event. They are the sons of Chris and Kristen Sigurdson.
Hailey Cota and her cousin, William Corrieri, get a hug from Santa at the Toys for Tots Jingle Bell 1k and 5k runs in Sartell Nov. 21. Both Hailey and William ran in the 1k race shortly before meeting Santa. Their mothers, Malanie Cota and Sarah Corrieri, ran in the 5k run. There were 44 children who took part in the 1k run. The purpose of the event was to raise funds for the Toys for Tots program so children who are less fortunate can get gifts for Christmas.
Shortly after taking off from the starting line, runners wave to cheering spectators at the Jingle Bell 5k run Nov. 21 in Sartell. There were 446 runners in the 5k race, and 44 runners in the earlier 1k race. Although final fundraising amounts have not been totaled as of press time, one of the organizers said there is easily enough money for $4,000-worth of toys.
