For Christmas 2019, the Sieda clients living in Mahaska County were blessed again this year through two programs. The Sieda Mahaska County Children’s Christmas and the Oskaloosa Police Department Christmas. The ages and likes of children were provided to the Oskaloosa Police Department while Sieda handled the rest with the help of great businesses and groups. No child is left without. Sieda funds the gifts of children not adopted.

The groups, businesses, and individuals in our counties have shown once again why Sieda is blessed to serve our communities. For 2019, Sieda Mahaska County Resource Center provided gifts to 452 children, ages 0 to 18-years-old. 

Winter is a difficult time a year. Heating cost, winter clothing, and providing for your children during Christmas is hard on all families. Especially for 32.1% of Mahaska individuals living below the 185% poverty level [1]. Sieda’s LIHEAP (Heating Assistance) helps families below 175% of the poverty level. That same level can be assisted with our Christmas programs. With the help of many in the community, we gave Christmas assistance to 184 families. 

Thank You

We can’t acknowledge all of the individuals that gave, but thank you for providing. Many great businesses helped, such as Dollar General East 3rd Ave for being a toy drop, Great Clips for donating hair cuts, Old School Arcade and Pinball in Oskaloosa donation and gaming coupons, and Ajinomoto Food donation. Thank you to Cargill Oskaloosa, Clow Valve Company, Homestead of Oskaloosa, Interpower Corporation, Kinetic Edge Physical Therapy, Mahaska Bottling Company, Musco Lighting, and Pella Corporation that adopted families and children to give presents.

Additional thanks to the Central United Methodist Church for opening their doors again for Sieda to distribute gifts. And the Oskaloosa Police Department that helps provide to the children with their Christmas Program.

[1] U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates; Mahaska County, Iowa; 2017