Shopping to begin soon for Warm The Children

Shopping will start Saturday, Nov. 2 for the Warm the Children (WTC) program, the annual cooperative effort of the Vilas County News-Review and North Woods communities to provide new winter clothing for the children of families in need.

Fundraising efforts for the program are underway to raise $80,000.

WTC volunteer shoppers will start shopping with families for coats, mittens, sweaters, scarves, footwear and other basic winter apparel at Glik’s in Eagle River and Northland Clothing Co. in Three Lakes, according to the program coordinator Nancy Brandner.

Shopping for WITC will continue through mid-December.

“Of the 42 shoppers we had last year, approximately 26 have responded, saying they will shop for us again this year. We are extremely grateful they are willing to donate their time to these families, said Brandner. “With the few days of cold weather we’ve already had, we are strongly encouraging families to get their applications in. We want to make sure that all of our local children are provided for, so they can enjoy the winter season.

“If you missed the application in our publications, they are available for pickup at the News-Review’s front entryway. There is a table at the far end of the entryway under the window, so participants can come in, fill it out and put it in the application box in the same area.”

Eligibility forms also are available at local needs programs including Caritas of Eagle River and Minocqua, The Rock Mission Center and Northwoods Share. School districts also have applications available for students.

Parents and caregivers of children ages newborn through 17 who are residents of Vilas County or the Three Lakes and Sugar Camp areas of Oneida County are welcome to apply for winter clothes. Foster families automatically qualify to take part in the program, but still must fill out an application.

After an eligibility form is received, purchase orders are written for the family and sent to one of the volunteer shoppers.

The amount per child was raised this year, with children birth to 2 years of age able to spend $130 and those 2 to 17, $260.

“This process doesn’t typically happen in one day. Due to short staffing everywhere, it could take up to a week for the eligibility form to make it through this process and get back to us for assignment. We encourage families to get your applications in as soon as possible, and shopping ends Dec. 14,” stated Brandner.

The process includes receiving the form at the News-Review, taking it to Vilas County Social Services for processing and receiving it back in-house at the News-Review for assigning and mailing out to a shopper. The shopper then gets in contact with the family to schedule a date and time for shopping.

Appointments are recommended before shopping at Glik’s so they can be sure to have enough staff on hand to assist shoppers.

Jennifer Baumann, owner of Northland Clothing Co., said that while the store is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., she is happy to accommodate shoppers by appointment if they cannot make it in during regular business hours.

As an added bonus, WTC recipients receive a discount of 25% off regularly priced items and sales tax exempt status, so many items are purchased at significant discounts for the program, according to Brandner.

Donations coming in

Donations from area residents, clubs, organizations and many others with ties to the North Woods have been coming in throughout the year and so far amounts to 22% of the 2024 goal, according to Brandner. 

“All donations received go to purchase warm winter clothing for area children,” Brandner said. “The News-Review picks up all administrative fees and every donation, no matter how large or small, is greatly appreciated.

Donations can be made in memory of or in honor of an individual. Checks can be made out to “Warm The Children” and mailed to the News-Review, P.O. Box 1929, Eagle River, WI 54521 or dropped off at the News-Review office, located at 425 Mill St in Eagle River. Online donations can be made at vcnewsreview.com on the home page.

Monetary donations are tax-deductible and are under the auspices of the Eagle River Rotary Club Foundation, a 501(c) (3) entity.

For more information about the program, or if interested in being a volunteer shopper, call 715-479-4421 and ask for Nancy.

In addition to many anonymous donors, donations were received as of Oct. 21 from the following communities:

Arbor Vitae: Peace Lutheran Church Women.

Eagle River: Don and Kris Barnekow; Wally and Jackie Coghlan; Constance Downey; Timothy and Lauren Goss; Jim and Jill Findorff; L. Allen Geiger; J.P and Barbara Holtz; James and Janice Lyons; Charles and Mary Spitz, in memory of Dorothy Thompson Paul; and Rodger and Carla Klein.

Land O’ Lakes: Ely Memorial UCC Church; Jonathan Samp; and Dowe and Veronica Tillemia.

St Germain: Gordon and Pat Rolland; Lions Club of St Germain; Judith Schell; and Rick and Ruth Steinke.

Sayner: Wayne and Lynette Ax; and Wayne and Debbie Seeger.

Three Lakes: Joe and Faye Maschke.

Minocqua: Allen and Margaret Conner.

Other Wisconsin communities: Richard and Terri Auchter, Neenah; Ricard and Kathleen Hieptas, Kaukauna; and Jerry and Patricia Kaminski, Waukesha.

Out of State donations: Richard Waggener, Waukegan, Ill.; Lois Hesse, Riverside, Calif.; Bob and Chris McCleeru, Tucson, Ariz.; Jay and Kathy Jansen, Lake Villa, Ill.; Bill and Robyn Abba, Freemont, Ill.; Mike and Deb Bowman, Monticello, Iowa; Jack and Mary Newman, Rockton, Ill.; and George and Arlene Reichert, Woodstock, Ill.