What do you get when you cross the Cow Club with Care & Share?

No, thatís not a bad joke. Quite the contrary, itís a good one ñ the answer is some very happy children and families at Christmas-time.

Many people and businesses donate to the Houston County Care & Share, a non-profit group that provides Christmas gifts to families in need.

But the Cow Clubís approach is unique and fun and very effective.

All right, what the heck is the Cow Club? Itís a group of eight couples who happen to be dairy farmers (hence the name) and former members of the county chapter of the American Dairy Association.

Members are Lester and Donna Banse, John and Karyl Diersen, Darryl and Mary Lou Graf, Tony and Luan Hammell, Don and the late Greta Ingvalson, Devoine and Linda Kruse, Brian and Chris Lee, and Dan and Sheila Schroeder.

They used to have so much fun meeting for the ADA that they kept it going. They gather every month or so to do some socializing, maybe go out to supper, go bowling, or play a round of mini-golf.

ìEverybody likes getting together so we just continued to do it once we got off the board,î Luan Hammell said.

ìIt gives us farmers a social life,î Schroeder said.

They also would do a gift exchange at Christmas, at first goofy ones, then home-made ones.

Three years ago they decided to give gifts to Care & Share instead. They ìadoptedî two families that were registered with Care & Share and bought gifts for the family members. (The families remain anonymous.)

The first two years each Cow Club member would pick one family member and buy for that person, using information such as the personís age, gender, and clothing size. They would wrap the gifts at a Christmas get-together.

This year they improved on the idea: they pooled their money, and four of the women ñ Karyl, Chris, Linda, and Luan ñ went shopping together.

No men went, for reasons obvious to any man who has gone Christmas shopping, or any woman who has had to tolerate that ordeal. ìWe do not include husbands,î Luan said with a laugh. ìWe really had a good time doing it.î

They went to four different stores in La Crosse. The women split into two groups for each family.

It took about four hours. They put a lot of thought into it. Itís difficult, because a clothing size and a body type can be two different things, Luan said.

ìBut itís always fun when a whole group does it,î Karyl said. They could bounce ideas off each other. They could ask, ìWhat do you say about this?î Karyl said.

They puzzled over some mysterious requests. One nine-year-old boy wanted a Game Cube. ìWe had no idea what a Game Cube was,î Luan said. It didnít matter anyway, because the $100 price tag made it too expensive.

Why do it? ì[We] Just like help somebody else out that can use it, I guess,î Luan answered. ìAnd itís something we will continue to do.î

ìWe all seem to have so much, and when some people have nothing, you just hate to have any family not have a nice Christmas,î Karyl said.

She thinks Care & Share is great. She was a shopper for the first time last year, and this year she will help with the distribution process, which takes place on December 13 in the basement of Merchants Bank in Caledonia.

Her St. Johnís Lutheran Church ladies aid group will give to care and share this year too for the first time.

Linda Kruse said adopting a family is a great idea, and they enjoy doing it. ìItís been fun the last few years weíve done it,î she said. ìWe enjoy giving to others that arenít quite as fortunate as we are.î

ìAnd to people that really need it,î she added. ìAnd it stays in the county, I guess thatís the good thing about it.î

10 families adopted this year

The Cow Club is one of 10 groups which adopted a family this year, Care & Share coordinator Bonnie Goetzinger said. Businesses, individuals, and churches make up the groups that adopt families.

ìIt varies from year to year. Itís not always the same group,î she said. For example, St. Lukeís United Church of Christ Church in Eitzen will adopt a family from Minnesota one year and a family from Iowa the next. (Not a bad idea for a church that straddles the state line.)

Goetzinger, the financial assistance supervisor at Houston County Human Services, gets permission from families and gathers information about what they need, including clothing size for the parents. She will also ask about special needs such as coats or gloves. Normally, Care & Share provides food card for families but does not buy things for parents. Groups that adopt families must buy food cards, Goetzinger said. The groups also do not know the identity of the families.

The amount spent is left up to group. ìItís to up to the groups what they do,î Goetzinger said. They are given expectations, and always seem to exceed them, Goetzinger said.

ìIt always falls in place,î Goetzinger said of Care & Share. ìWe panic a little but it always falls in place.î

About Care & Share

Care & Share is a non-profit organization set up to serve the residents of Houston County. The purpose is to serve their wants and needs when there is no other program to help these individuals.

The Christmas project is their main concern. In 2005 the group helped 472 children have a brighter Christmas. They also purchased grocery certificates for 103 elderly or disabled individuals.

The group makes sure that every child has a few gifts. This includes things like toys, clothing, or gift certificates. Food certificates from local grocery stores are given to each household to help with Christmas dinner.

Parents must fill out a form as to number of children, sizes, and and suggested items. They must also sign a release to receive gifts. The names are kept confidential, with only the main committee knowing who is participating. A number is assigned for the volunteers to use on packaging and for families in picking up their packages.

Families are sent a follow-up letter as to when and where to pick up their packages at drop sites in Caledonia, La Crescent, Hokah, Houston, and Spring Grove.

Other examples of Care & Share projects include:

ï Winter coats and school supplies for children;

ï Food certificates for homeless people;

ï Emergency money for needy families of hospital patients;

ï Items for victims of fires such as towels, bedding, and clothing.

Care & Share is funded by donations from youth groups, churches, businesses, organizations, and individuals in Houston County. For more information contact Jan Palen, president, 507-725-3677; Polly Heberlein, vice-president, 725-5436; Jill Hahn, secretary-treasurer, 724-3475 or 724-3157; Bonnie Goetzinger, 724-3263; or Naomi Fruechte, 724-2524.