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You have probably seen us in action on many occasions in the community, even if you may not have realized it at the time. Here are the current projects and events we are involved in:
Some of the organizations who regularly benefit from our donations and/or services include (but are not limited to):
- Advocates Against Domestic Abuse
- Relay for Life
- March of Dimes
- Girl Scouts
- Boy Scouts
- Kinship
- Jacques Art Center
- Aitkin Public Schools
- Riverwood Healthcare Center
- HART
- 4-H
- Camp Friendship
- American Heart Association
- Aitkin Area Food Shelf
- St. James Food Shelf
- First Lutheran Food Shelf
- Second Harvest Heartland
Easter Carnival
A fun, family event with games and prizes, pictures with Easter Bunny, and delicious food items that can be purchased at the bake sale. The event is generally held at Westside Church in Aitkin a few weeks before Easter.
Memory Books
Rippleside Elementary’s annual yearbook with student pictures, and activities, held at Rippleside. Memory Books are available for families to purchase from the elementary school.
Highway Cleanup
An event held in conjunction with the Aitkin County Adopt-a-Highway Program. Cleanup takes place in the spring and summer along a three mile stretch on Pioneer Avenue.
Safety Town
A week of safety learning activities for children ages 4-7, including education about safe practices regarding water, car, bike, bus, train, and fire prevention. It takes place two weeks after the end of the school year. It’s held in the morning at Rippleside Elementary. A graduation ceremony and a safety fair conclude the activities for the week.
Two or three times a year, the AWT sponsor and serve the community meal, held on Monday nights at First Lutheran Church. The meal generally serves around 100 people from the Aitkin community.
Kiddie Parade
Children dress up in costumes and march in a mini parade, held just prior to the Riverboat Days Parade in August. The kiddie parade route goes from the Post Office to the Butler Building down Minnesota Avenue in Aitkin. The Miss Aitkin Court hands out awards to the kids for participating.
Library Party
Held in conjunction with the Aitkin Public Library’s Lawn Party during Riverboat Days. AWT sponsors the games and prizes for kids, which are free of charge for families participating.
School Pictures
AWT coordinates the photographer and registration for the Rippleside and Aitkin High School students’ pictures. All proceeds earned from this event goes back into the schools through various donations, purchases, and scholarships.
Pumpkin Patch
Usually held at the Aitkin City Park in October, on the Sunday before MEA weekend. It’s a fall themed event with carnival-style games to win prizes, haunted house, fall bake sale, concessions, face painting, kid’s crafts, pumpkin sales, free hayride, and a professional photographer available for family portrait purchases.
Coats for Kids
A community collection of used children’s winter outerwear that are given away (free of charge). The collection is taken sometime in October and items are cleaned before given away.
Drop & Shop
Parents can drop children off at the theatre for a movie, popcorn, pop, and prizes in order to do some Christmas shopping in Aitkin. AWT partners with the Rialto Theatre and the Aitkin Retail Committee, allowing for the event to be completely free of charge for families participating. The event is generally held on the second Saturday in December. A Christmas bake sale and handprint potholders are available for purchase in the theater lobby.
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