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Campout aids those in need

BLUE EARTH — With every tradition lies a story waiting to be told.

As the 20th Annual KBEW/Darling International “You Can Make a Difference” campout began Thursday, memories arose for those who have been involved for years. They reflected on the positive impact these past 20 years have given Faribault County.

In Juba’s parking lot in downtown Blue Earth there stands a tent and trailer. The three-day event is designed to help raise money and accept donations for the Faribault County Food Shelf, as well as accept new toys for the Western Faribault County toy drive.

“Norm Hall asked me 20 years ago to camp in the parking lot and raise money for the charity,” said Tim Juba, third-generation Juba Supervalu proprietor. “And here we are today, still camping out for a great cause.”

Juba has seen firsthand how important helping the food shelf can be for everyone involved.

“Being in the food business myself, I have worked personally with the food shelf,” said Juba. “I can see the need, and it’s also nice to know we are helping those in our community as well.”

While the tent is now heated and carpeted, it was not always that way.

“Our first campout, we were outside the whole time with little heat, cooked food over a burn barrel, and slept in a tent on the cement,” Juba said with a chuckle. “It was not comfortable and very cold, but we decided to do it again the next year anyway, and each year little improvements were made as we gained another volunteer.”

Since then, volunteers have experienced the old Dodge Caravan, vans for windbreakers, a lean-to, a huge pink stuffed animal to draw attention, a Christmas tree in a toilet and ugly sweaters to name a few.

“We have been through snow, dealt with rain, been out here in T-shirts and shorts, and about everything in between,” Juba said. “Through it all, it has given us great memories as well as helped us improve every year.”

As the temporary home has improved, so has the event itself, as it has spread across the community in word and in service. Volunteers and donors have increased, giving back more to the community they love.

The campout also has become what some might say is a brotherhood of sorts, as a consistent group of men have been involved over several years, making it what it is today.

“It’s the only time all year this whole group gets together,” said Norm Hall. “We all have our own lives and keep in touch, but I know I look forward to the first weekend in December to be able to unite in a cause with those I can rely on to help every year, and catch up with.”

These men are referred to as the “campers.” With blankets and pillows packed up for two nights and three days, they do not leave the site other than to use the restroom or deliver food to the food shelf.

“You could say we become pretty close,” Hall said with a smile. “Through all the snoring and the lack of showers, there always seems to be something that happens each year that reminds us why we are doing this.”

The campers believe in the mission so much that the tradition runs generations deep. The campers consist of Tim Juba, Joe Salisbury (father), Collin Salisbury (son), Norm Hall (father), Matthew Hall (son) and Lucas Kramer. These men have dedicated years of their time to the cause they believe in.

“In this very tent, we have a family of three generations helping once younger kids are out of school, along with fathers and sons,” Hall said. “And Lucas Kramer is a senior at Blue Earth Area High School, where he first started helping when he was a first-grader. Now that’s something else.”

When asked how he got involved, Kramer explained it was through school.

“I won an essay contest in first-grade about why this event is important and read it out loud at an assembly,” Kramer said. “I then helped that year, stayed all night when I was in fifth grade for the first time, and have been helping ever since.”

With the school in full support and encouraging students and families to donate non-perishable items and new toys to the campaign, participation is overwhelming. The school also holds a contest per grade for the most food and toys donated, with a gift for the winner, and one essay winner from each class selected to read their essay in front of the entire student body and broadcasted live.

KBEW radio also is in the tent throughout the event, with the occasional live interview discussing how the day is going.

“It’s great to see so many people get involved, and we love to hear of the kids participation,” Juba said. “It’s hard to believe it has been 20 years that this has been going on.”

Two scrapbooks with pages filled with photos and articles of every year show growth and support from community members past and present.

“Looking through the pages you can see articles that have been written about what we are doing, and see photos of all the fun times we have had as well as remembering the lives of those who have helped and no longer with us,” Hall said. “We reminisce about things we remember from years ago, like pie that would still be warm from the oven and given to us to eat during our campout.”

The scrapbooks also show totals in donations each year, and the impact on the food shelf and toy drive. In 2016, from January to October, almost 800 families were served at the Faribault County Food Shelf. With an average of one to six individuals per family, the upcoming days’ donations will surely help the food shelf in providing meals for those families in need and for the months to come.

“It’s the season of giving,” Hall said. “What this campout does goes well into 2017, and will help many families in need and allow kids to get a toy for Christmas.”

With the event going on until noon Saturday, donations of food, toys and money will be accepted for the next few days and coming weeks.

“We don’t have a goal per say, but we are thankful for everything we receive and hope we can get as much as we can for this great cause,” Hall said. “We have a number of people that have helped us get to where we are and we are very thankful.”

And so the tradition will continue with another page to add to its scrapbook, along with the knowledge and comfort in knowing the community will benefit from their efforts, even though they may smell a little when it’s all over.

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