Warm The Children short $5,000 of fundraising goal

Donations to Warm The Children (WTC), a program sponsored by the Vilas County News-Review under the auspices of the Eagle River Rotary Foundation to provide winter clothing for children in need, is still $5,000 short of its 2024 fundraising goal according to program coordinator Nancy Brandner.
The program has successfully met its fundraising goal each year since increasing the amount from $70,000 to $80,000 in 2018. The increase in fundraising goals has allowed WTC to provide warmth for more area children, as well as raise the spending amount per child.
News-Review Publisher Kurt Krueger said that although the program has ended for the 2024 season, donations are still coming in to help clothe children.
“This enables us to start the 2025 winter season with money already in reserve. Because we start the shopping season so soon after we start receiving donations, it is important that we have funds so that children can be shopped for as the winter season begins,” he said.
He stressed that every penny raised goes to clothe children in need in the area, as the News-Review funds all of the administrative, marketing and other costs associated with the program.

“I think it’s important that the money being donated is used exclusively to help the kids and families that need it most,” said Krueger. “We can fund all the program costs because we have a strong community newspaper with fantastic support from readers and area businesses, our advertisers.”
The spending limit was also raised for shoppers this year.
“We also want to let supporters of this program know that because of their generosity, we were able to increase the spending limit from $220 to $260 for children ages 2 to 17, and $110 to $130 for those younger than 2 years old this year. When the community is generous with their donations, we are able to better serve those in the program,” said Brandner.
“For low-income families to be able to purchase needed clothes for their children, especially new, high-quality clothing, is such a much-appreciated gift,” she added.
Krueger said while there are many programs that seek financial help during the holidays, the WTC program continues to be well accepted.
Although the program is ending for the year, donations have still been trickling in as people wrap up their year-end giving.
“How inspiring it is to live and work in communities that harbor such generous and thoughtful people — both residents and seasonal visitors,” said Krueger.
WTC operates under the auspices of the Eagle River Rotary Club Foundation as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit group.
Tax-deductible donations may be made year-round and are applied toward the next year’s program, allowing volunteers to send children shopping when the cold weather begins in fall.
Checks can be made out to “Warm The Children” and mailed to the Vilas County News-Review, P.O. Box 1929, Eagle River, WI 54521 or dropped off at the News-Review office. Online donations can be made at vcnewsreview.com on the home page.

Shopping completed

The final families completed their shopping just ahead of the Christmas holiday, Brandner added.
This brings about the end of another successful season which clothed a total of 462 children.
“We couldn’t put on this amazing program without the volunteers and the donors. Their time and monetary efforts given each year are truly a blessing,” she added.
For more information, call Brandner at 715-479-4421.

Community donations

In addition to many anonymous donors, donations were received as of Dec. 13 from residents in the following communities:
Conover: Joanie Green; and Marilyn Preisler.
Three Lakes: Diane Sorge; St. Theresa Catholic Church Thrift Store.
Sugar Camp: Carol Dart.

Land O’ Lakes: Tim and Christine Pattermann; and Stephen Simpson.
St. Germain: Carolynn Brink.
Other Wisconsin cities: Mark and Cory Borchardt, Brookfield; Pat and Mary Hietpas, in memory of Mom and Dad, Kaukauna; Peter Victoria and Leslie Gulliford, Muscoda; Scott Legwold, Chippewa Falls; Tony and Kathy Mattson, Mount Pleasant; Fred and Bea Jay Panke, Belleville, in memory of late brothers Jeff Panke and Hal Young; and Tom Steinback, Germantown.
Out of state: Joey and Jake Mattson, Maple Grove, Minn.; Daryle Wraqqe and Joan Anderson, Wenona, Ill.