The Climb Prepares for Christmas While Helping More Mahaska County Families
Sheila Guiter (left) and Cathy Griffis stopped by the studio to talk about Christmas fundraising.
OSKALOOSA, Iowa – The Climb, a nonprofit in Oskaloosa, has already started getting ready for Christmas. The group helps families who are dealing with money problems, emergencies, and other tough situations.
The organization is gathering Christmas gifts for kids, planning fundraisers, and getting ready for its yearly Give It Up Christmas program. It also keeps offering food, clothing, household items, and other help to local residents.
In a recent interview with Oskaloosa News, Sheila Guiter from The Climb talked about how the group has grown, how more families are using its services, and how the community can help during the holidays.
The Climb runs a pay-what-you-can thrift store, a food pantry, and a medical equipment loan closet at Penn Central Mall in Oskaloosa. You can find the entrance inside the mall, close to where Dollar General used to be.
Unlike most thrift stores, The Climb lets people pay whatever they can for the items they need.
The group also supports people facing domestic violence, house fires, flooding, and other sudden emergencies.
Organization Continues to Grow
The Climb has grown and moved into a bigger space after its old location became too small.
The organization recently added more room at its current location, allowing it to display additional merchandise and serve more customers.
According to Guiter, 144 new families have registered with The Climb since August.
The organization has also distributed 160 food boxes since June.
As more families use its services, The Climb keeps looking for new ways to raise money and gather donations.
Guiter said the organization depends on support from the community instead of getting money from just one company or business.
Most of this support comes from individual donations, local businesses, fundraisers, and the Give It Up Mahaska Facebook group.
About 12 to 15 volunteers help keep the organization running.
Christmas Gift Collection Already Underway
One of The Climb’s biggest yearly projects is the Give It Up Christmas program, which gives gifts to children in families that need help.
Donation barrels are already set up at several businesses in Oskaloosa.
The group is collecting new, unwrapped gifts for kids and teens up to age 17.
Donations don’t have to be just toys. Things like earbuds, tools, personal care items, and other gifts for different ages are also welcome.
Current donation locations include O’Reilly Auto Parts, Lemonade and Leaf, Dollar General, and Mahaska Drug.
More collection spots will be announced soon.
Each donation barrel includes a QR code thaEach donation barrel has a QR code, so people can give money through Venmo if they prefer that over buying a gift.ularly as Christmas approaches.
Families Can Apply for Christmas Assistance
Families who need help with Christmas gifts can stop by The Climb to fill out an application.
Each child needs a separate application.
Guiter said collecting information for each child helps the group avoid double registrations and lets more families get help.
The Climb asks families to check out other Christmas help programs first, if they can.
But the group doesn’t ask families to show proof of income to join its program.
This year, organizers are changing how they give out Christmas help.
One goal is to make things more personal by letting parents play a bigger part in picking out gifts for their kids.
Families who want to join can visit The Climb to get more information and sign-up forms.
Halloween Candygrams Will Help Fund Christmas Program
One of the group’s more unique fundraisers is happening right before Halloween. On the 31st, volunteers dressed in inflatable chicken and banana costumes will deliver Halloween candygrams throughout Mahaska County.
For $20, people can have the costumed volunteers surprise a friend, family member, or anyone else with a bag of treats.
The deliveries might also be filmed and shared on Facebook.
Candygrams will be delivered from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on both days, with each delivery about 15 minutes apart.
Guiter said the idea came from the group’s popular Valentine’s Day fundraiser, where motorcyclists in tutus deliver surprises.
Money from the Halloween event will help pay for The Climb’s Christmas activities.
You can order through the group’s website at www.giveitupmahaska.org or by emailing giveitupmahaska@gmail.com.
More Fundraisers Planned Through December
The Climb has more fundraisers planned before Christmas.
On November 11, the group will hold an online quilt auction on its The auction will feature handmade quilts made to help raise money for the nonprofit.r the nonprofit.
The Climb will also be back at Oskaloosa’s Lighted Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 5, selling its salted caramel hot chocolate.
Guiter said the hot chocolate fundraiser has raised over $800 at past Christmas parades.
The drinks are made at the event, and people can pay with cash or Venmo.
The group is also planning another quilt fundraiser on December 12, with raffle tickets likely to cost $5 each.
In addition, The Climb is selling shirts and hoodies to raise money. “Together We Climb” shirts are $20, and hoodies cost $35.
You need to pay for clothing orders ahead of time, and you can order them at the store.
Community Partnerships Help Provide More Services
The Climb does more than just run a thrift store and Christmas program.
The group has built partnerships with other community service groups, like First Resources.
Guiter said Johnson County Public Health visits The Climb on the fourth Thursday of each month to offer free STI and HIV testing.
In exchange for offering space, The Climb gets hygiene and reproductive health supplies to help people in need.
The group also teams up with local businesses and volunteers for bigger community projects.
One example is the Shoes and Dos program, which gives shoes and other help to local residents.
Guiter explained that Outer Limits Truck Repair has helped move large amounts of donated shoes and equipment.
This year, the program worked with the Oskaloosa Community School District, so activities could happen at the high school.
These partnerships help The Climb offer services that would be hard for volunteers to manage alone.
Monthly Donors Help Cover Operating Expenses
Now that The Climb has a bigger rented space, it is looking for more steady financial support.
The group has started a monthly giving program called Heart of a Climber.
Anyone who gives at least $10 a month can have their name on a heart inside the store and in a recognition book.
Monthly donations give the group a more reliable way to cover its operating costs.
Guiter said donations matter even more now because The Climb pays rent for a bigger space, instead of using donated locations.
The group started in a home, then moved to church buildings, and now is at Penn Central Mall.
As more families get help, the need for more space, supplies, and volunteers has also grown.
How Residents Can Help
The Climb has many ways for people to support its work.
People can give food, clothes, household items, Christmas gifts, or money. They can also join fundraisers, buy merchandise, or sign up as monthly donors.
Anyone who needs help can visit the store to learn about the programs and services offered.
The group also shares information about its activities and upcoming fundraisers on its website and Facebook pages.
For more details, visit www.giveitupmahaska.org or email giveitupmahaska@gmail.com.
With Christmas coming up, The Climb is working to collect enough donations to help local kids and keep supporting families all year long.
