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Minnesota Nice wraps up 2015 with over 200 packages

Over 200 soldiers had a better Christmas than they may have expected, thanks to Minnesota Nice, based here in Glencoe.
Linda Krueger, who along with Colleen Benjamin and LaDonna Stuber, heads up the local effort to provide packages for soldiers, said they packed 205 boxes this year, up about 40 from last year.
While the three do all the packaging and shipping, the local effort is mostly due to the generosity of organizations and individuals in the area.
“As always, I’m totally overwhelmed by the donations and gifts,” said Krueger. For fear of accidentally omitting someone, Krueger said she would prefer to offer a general thanks to all those who donated, both with items and money.
Although they shipped out their last packages before Christmas, the women’s work wasn’t done — they are already looking ahead to 2016.
Krueger and Benjanim hit the post-Christmas sales to pick up Christmas decorations and other items to stow away for when Minnesota Nice fires up again for the 2016 holiday season.
And while Krueger is grateful for the response from Glencoe-area residents in supporting the project, so are the overseas servicemen and women.
Minnesota Nice has been overwhelmed by thank yous from recipients, which Krueger carefully compiles in a scrapbook.
Here is a random sampling of responses (locations are not listed for security reasons).
“I am a chaplain assistant in the Army. My chaplain and I receive care packages from amazing supporters like you. It means so much that people like you have such a big heart for your deployed military.” — Sgt. Grant Van Brimmer.
“…Every member of this unit is important, and sometimes the days get long and lonely. It’s hard to be away from home, but because of people like you, who remind us of why we do this, and who we are protecting, we find the strength to keep going!” — Spc. Jessica McLean.

For more, see the Jan. 6 print edition of The Chronicle.