The Fourth of July brings out the American spirit and pride, and the Austin Salvation Army is hoping it will also bring out the spirit of giving.

Volunteers at the Salvation Army will be walking in the Fourth of July parade to collect donations for the food shelf for the second straight year. Lt. David Amick said the need is up this summer, and the shelf is nearly out of food.

“We’ve been hit kind of heavy, actually, so we’re hoping to have some good donations here,” Amick said.

Amick said it’s not unusual to be low on food this time of year, since there is a gap in donation drives from May through October. Though it was a record year for the annual mail carriers’ Stamp Our Hunger food drive, Amick said the food “just flew out the door.” He said organizers haven’t seen an increase in families, but there has been an increase in need.

“It’s gotten down quite a bit,” he said. “So we could definitely use help this year.”

The Salvation Army truck will be unit No. 63 in the parade again this year, and volunteers will walk with shopping carts to collect food and a kettle to collect money. Amick encouraged people to bring food to the parade, and hoped for good weather.

“I’m looking forward to the Fourth, it’s going to be a great day it sounds like, and hoping to see everyone there,” he said.

Trio raising funds for 2016 triathlon

Local resident Kelly Nesvold will also be at the Freedom Fest Parade, raising money to bring awareness to human trafficking.

Nesvold, along with his wife, Danielle, and friend Eric Feuchtenberger are working toward doing a triathlon — 300M4Freedom — to raise money and awareness to help stop human trafficking. The triathlon is planned for next year, but Nesvold has already started planning for the event.

“We are just kind of kicking off our 300-mile event that we’re doing August of 2016,” Nesvold said.

He and his group will walk and throw candy during the parade, and also have a booth set up in Bandshell Park to sell T-shirts and paracord bracelets. Nesvold hopes to answer questions and start raising awareness during the Freedom Fest Celebration. He hopes to organize more events as the event draws closer.

The triathlon will start with a 5-mile swim across Pokegama Lake in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, followed by a 240-mile bike through the metro area and a 55-mile run through Faribault to Austin. The three organizers are still working out the details. The Nesvolds and Feuchtenberger are working with Mission 21 in Rochester and could work with several other charities to create a statewide effort to educate and create awareness for human trafficking.

Nesvold has already spoken with several groups in town, including the Noon Kiwanis, the Noon Lion’s Club and Human Rights Commission, who he said have all been very receptive to the event. The goal is to raise $50,000, but Nesvold said they will fine-tune that number closer to the event.

“We have a year to do it, and I’m really hoping we can turn this into a state event versus just a local event and raise as much awareness as we can,” he said.

The group has raised about $800 so far in T-shirt and bracelet sales. To help with the event, contact Nesvold at 507-317-9535.