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Staff writer

It was the day before Thanksgiving and the St. Francis High School dance team had some heavy shopping to do.

It was not for themselves or even for gifts for their family and friends.

The 38-member team was shopping for its adoptive family.

This is the first year the team has adopted a family, said co-captain Vanessa Steir.

After years of holding fund-raisers and asking the community for money, the team is giving back.

“We wanted to give back to the community,” said co-captain Sarah Madsen.

Each team member chipped in $10. With the $370 raised, the team traveled south to the Coon Rapids Wal-Mart and bought sleepers, pajamas, underwear and few surprises for their adopted family.

Dec. 3, the team will deliver their gifts to a Fridley family.

The family includes a 26-year-old mother, her brother and her four young children, including a set of one-and-a-half-year-old twins, said Madsen.

The family was selected for the team by the Anoka County Adopt-a-Family.

The dance team members suggested the adopt-a-family program and they organized it all, said adviser Jill Salo.

“I’m so proud of them,” she said.

Tammy Sakry is at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it