What We Do

Since 2009 Feeding Hearts for the Holidays has come together to create a warm, joyful, and festive holiday celebration on behalf of CHUM and families at the Steve O’Neil Apartments.

 

We saw a need

The Holiday Breakfast was organized by the initiative of one woman, Katie Pehling.  Katie grew up in a small family in southern Minnesota, volunteering at a community Christmas breakfast in her hometown.  In 2009, she and Eric Pehling welcomed their first child, and Katie began trying to find a volunteer opportunity in Duluth on Christmas morning for their family.  After several calls, she realized there was a need for a Holiday Breakfast at CHUM on Christmas morning.

She called local businesses and solicited friends for the ingredients to make a special, hearty breakfast.  On Christmas morning, she and Eric, their infant daughter, and Katie’s parents arrived at CHUM, supplies in hand.  They cooked and served breakfast for about 100 people, sharing fellowship with the folks using CHUM that day.

Over the next few years, Katie’s efforts became more streamlined, and the number of people helping with the breakfast increased from 5 to more than 30.  The shelter was decorated for the holidays on Christmas morning, and gifts were distributed.

Heather Winesett, a friend of Katie’s, began helping with the breakfast shortly after its inception. In 2014, Heather took over primary coordination of the event, and began working to enlarge the planning committee.  By the end of 2018, there were so many people excited to provide food, gifts, music and cheer at CHUM that we contacted the Steve O’Neil Apartments (SONA) to see if we could provide additional services there on Christmas morning.

Since then, on Christmas morning Feeding Hearts for the Holidays has served breakfast and distributed gift bags at CHUM and provided a holiday breakfast and activities kit for each apartment at SONA.

Our goals each year are to:

Provide a healthy, hearty breakfast for our community at CHUM and SONA, 

Weave together Northland businesses and families to share the blessings of our community,

Create and share joy with as many people as possible on Christmas morning!!

Katie and Heather with family volunteers in 2017

 

“Join our effort to share joy!”

-The Planning Team: Heather, Katie, Dee, Michaela, Lesa, Kerry, Cristy, Deb, Chelsa, Gloria, Carin, Jordan & Sarah

 

In 2020, with the generous support of our community, we were able to provide:

  • 12 egg bakes, 5 potato bakes, 8 french toast bakes, 200+ cinnamon rolls, 12 dozen scones

  • 30lbs of sausage, 6 spiral hams

  • 30 gallons of milk, 35 gallons of juice

  • 5lbs of freshly ground coffee and gourmet creamers

  • 300 face masks

  • 500 hand-knit hats, scarves, and mittens

  • 250lbs of apples and 30lb of assorted fruit

  • 58 boxes of cereal

  • take-home crafts and gifts for the children at the Steve O’Neil Apartments

  • 100 gift bags for the residents at CHUM

  • 15 poinsettias, multiple wreaths, and garland for decorations

  • Served 200+ people a hearty, healthy, joyful breakfast each season