PRESS KIT: Catholic Charities Giving Tree
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Media Contacts:
Therese Gales; (612) 221-5161; therese.gales@cctwincities.org
Elizabeth Lyden; (651) 757-7764; elizabeth.lyden@cctwincities.org
Catholic Charities to host Annual Giving Tree event Dec. 20-21 at Mall of America®
Free holiday event provides opportunities for the whole family to give back; shop for someone in need; participate in pop-up volunteer opportunities; and meet therapy animals including alpacas, llamas, cats, and dogs.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (Dec. 15, 2025) — Catholic Charities Twin Cities today announced the annual Giving Tree, a festive family-friendly event that provides community members of all ages with easy ways to give back and spread some holiday spirit! The two-day event features opportunities to shop for someone in need; participate in quick volunteer activities; learn more about the work of Catholic Charities; and meet therapy animals, including alpacas, llamas, dogs, cats, and rabbits. Giving Tree will take place at Mall of America® (Macy’s Court) from 10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, and Sunday, Dec. 21.
Giving Tree supports Catholic Charities’ efforts to provide housing, emergency shelter, and direct services to more than 33,000 men, women, children and families every year. At the event, attendees can:
• shop for someone in need;
• assemble “sock-n-rolls,” which are cold-weather care packages consisting of socks, handwarmers, lip balm, tissues, and lotion — showing just how easy it is to make a difference for a neighbor served by Catholic Charities;
• And this year, North Star Therapy Animals — including alpacas, llamas, dogs, cats, and rabbits — will be at the Giving Tree from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm on Saturday, December 20, and Sunday, December 21. Catholic Charities’ trauma-informed care approach aims to respond to individual needs in a safe, supportive environment — and therapy animals offer emotional support for clients and staff alike.
“The essential items donated through Giving Tree are critical in our efforts to support our neighbors across the Twin Cities as they work toward stability,” said Keith Kozerski, Chief Program Officer at Catholic Charities. “We invite you to join Giving Tree — a symbol of our shared commitment to building a stronger community for everyone.”
“At Catholic Charities, we provide support and solutions for our neighbors in need,” said Jamie Verbrugge, President and CEO of Catholic Charities. “This has been a challenging time for many in our community, and we are grateful for the generous support that makes our work possible. We look forward to seeing you at the Giving Tree to celebrate the impact we can have when we all work together.”
EVENT DETAILS
Event:
Catholic Charities Giving Tree
Dates:
Dec. 20-21, 2025
Duration:
All day (10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.)
Venue & Location:
Mall of America
Macy’s Court
60 E Broadway
Bloomington, Minn. 55425
Price:
Free
ABOUT CATHOLIC CHARITIES TWIN CITIES:
For more than 150 years, Catholic Charities has been an integral part of the Twin Cities community, directly serving our most vulnerable neighbors. We deliver essential services including affordable housing, emergency shelter, nutritious meals, mental health care, addiction resources, and more. Catholic Charities offers a lifeline to those facing hardship, providing support, and developing solutions to build stronger communities. Regardless of faith, identity, background, or circumstances, we treat everyone with dignity and respect. This transformative work wouldn’t be possible without our dedicated staff and the generous support of our donors, volunteers, and advocates. To learn more about our impact, please visit www.cctwincities.org.
ABOUT MALL OF AMERICA®:
At 5.6 million square feet, Mall of America is the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America with up to 500 world-class retail stores and restaurants; Nickelodeon Universe, a 7-acre indoor theme park; SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium; FlyOver America; Crayola Experience; and more. The Mall opened in 1992 and is located in Bloomington, Minn., minutes from downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul and adjacent to MSP International Airport. Follow Mall of America on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok. Listen to So Much More – a Mall of America podcast, on all major platforms or watch on YouTube. Download the Mall of America app from the App Store for iOS or Google Play for Android.
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