How to Give Back this Holiday Season
A guide to volunteering and donating locally this winter.
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As you celebrate the people and things you value in your life this holiday season, you might find yourself wishing to give back some of your fortune to your community.
Beyond dropping spare change in the red kettle at your local grocery store, there are many ways to act on the holiday spirit of giving. Here are just some of the options.
Donate food and clothing
Many food pantries are experiencing record numbers of visitors and hoping for an extra boost of giving around the holidays.
Cindy Hilgendorf, assistant director of Family Sharing, an Ozaukee County food pantry, said the pantry had a record number of patrons in November and she expects December to be equally busy. She said families are in especially great need of hats and mittens, and personal care items.
Where to donate:
- Family Sharing is accepting donations on site at 1002 Overland Ct. in Grafton. They accept any kind of food that has not expired, as well as clothing and personal care items.
- Shorewood Village Hall employees are collecting food to support the Hunger Task Force. Anyone can drop off non-perishable food items at village buildings and times listed here.
- United Methodist Church in Whitefish Bay is collecting non-perishable food and clothing to donate to United Methodist Children's Services, Northcott Neighborhood House, and Repairers of the Breach. Anyone can drop off donations at the church office between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, at 819 E. Silver Spring Dr.
- A new food pantry at St. Peters United Church of Christ in Saukville is accepting donations at 166 W. Dekora St. You can also drop donations for the Saukville food pantry at Dawgs in Motion.
- Many grocery stores have collection boxes for non-perishable food. In Shorewood, Sendik's and Pick'n Save have collections for the Hunger Task Force. The Sendik's in Whitefish Bay has a box for Feeding America. In Glendale, Pick'n Save is collecting donations for the Hunger Task Force. The Sentry in Port Washington will bring donations to the Port Washington food pantry, which is down the road next to St. Peter of Alcantara.
Donate your time
If you don't have the money or supplies to donate, or you want to be more involved in the community, consider volunteering with one of the following organizations:
- Help senior citizens with the strenuous tasks that winter brings, like shoveling snow and finding transportation, or just keep them company. In Ozaukee County, find opportunities to help with the Interfaith Caregivers. In the North Shore, try the Shorewood Senior Resource Center, the Jewish Community Center in Whitefish Bay, Shoreline Interfaith in Whitefish Bay, or the LX Club in Fox Point.
- St. Monica's Parish in Whitefish Bay participates in a variety of meal programs, including Sandwich Saturday in conjunction with St. Eugene's in Fox Point on the third Saturday of each month.
- The Port Washington food pantry, located next to and run by St. Peter of Alcantara church, accepts volunteers and donations. Contact the pantry at 262-284-1148.
- Help coordinate, prepare and serve meals for those in need at meal sites in the city like The Gathering, the Bay View Community Center, Kathy's House, Feeding America, The Salvation Army, and the Milwaukee Christian Center.
For many more options, contact the Volunteer Center of Greater Milwaukee or the Volunteer Center of Ozaukee County.
In This article
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United Methodist Church of Whitefish Bay
819 E Silver Spring Dr, Milwaukee, WI -
Shorewood Village Hall
3930 N Murray Ave, Shorewood, WI -
Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center
6255 N Santa Monica Blvd, Whitefish Bay, WI -
LX Club
217 W Dunwood Rd, Milwaukee, WI (Room 115 and 118) -
St. Monica Congregation
5635 N Santa Monica Blvd, Milwaukee, WI
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St. Eugene Congregation
7600 N Port Washington Rd, Fox Point, WI -
St. Peter of Alcantara
1800 N Wisconsin St, Port Washington, WI -
Shoreline Interfaith
1200 E Hampton Rd, Milwaukee, WI -
Sendik's Quality Food Market
4027 N Oakland Ave, Milwaukee, WI -
Pick'n Save
4145 N Oakland Ave, Milwaukee, WI -
Sendik's Food Markets
500 E Silver Spring Dr, Whitefish Bay, WI -
Pick'n Save
6969 N Port Washington Rd, Glendale, WI -
Sentry Foods Stores
101 W Seven Hills Rd, Port Washington, WI -
St. Peters United Church of Christ
166 W Dekora St, Saukville, WI -
Dawgs In Motion
580 N Dekora Woods Blvd, Saukville, WI
