This year’s Christmas in Kalona has events to get in the holiday spirit, but also importantly, the giving spirit.

A new event this year is YMCA’s Sports Santa, an athletic gear donation drive that will be happening from 9-11 a.m. Saturday at the Kalona Chamber of Commerce. The YMCA is asking for items such as bats, gloves, pants, shirts, cleats, shoes, and bags, and will be giving them to those in need. The Kalona United Methodist Church is hosting a HACAP toy drive, from 10 a.m. to noon at the church.

If you’re looking to give a monetary charitable donation, Kalona Chamber Co-director Kaylin Brokaw has a suggestion, “Different organizations will be set up that are all non-profits and they’re going to be set up so you can come through even with your children to say that, ‘Instead of maybe giving you an extravagant gift this year that we’re going to give to this organization.’ It’s the giving season. It’s an opportunity to have options some people don’t always know where they want to give to but do want to give to somewhere, and so there will be a bunch of different organizations there.”

The missions market will be 1-3 p.m. at the Kalona United Methodist Church. For a list of all other Christmas in Kalona events click on the poster above.