FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 3, 2020
Contact:
Heidi Prahl
Donor & Community Relations
800-236-9364
heidip@thefamily.net | www.thefamily.net
‘Help for the Homeless’ Hygiene Drive Kicks off Feb. 16!
87 Local Crisis Agencies to Benefit from Hygiene & Cleaning Product Donations
Appleton, Green Bay, Wausau/Stevens Point, Sheboygan WI –91.9/91.5/91.3/88.5FM The Family: The Family Radio Networks’ 28TH annual ‘Help for the Homeless’ hygiene drive, Feb. 16 – March 8, is collecting new toiletry and cleaning products for 87 Wisconsin crisis agencies in 15 Northeast and Central Wisconsin communities. People are encouraged to donate hygiene items at public collection sites, Festival Foods, and Walgreens, as well as at work, church or school. More than 900 area businesses, churches, and schools are participating by collecting internally from staff, members and students. Donations remain in communities where they are collected.
“After walking the streets all day in the snow, he was sopping wet and his pants and shoes were covered in mud. With tears in his eyes, He asked if he could have shelter and a shower. When we told him we could help, he was so grateful! Then his appreciation turned to astonishment as we gave him his own full bottle of shampoo, body wash, and razors. Having lost the ability to look and smell clean, he’d also lost his self-confidence – applying for work was out of the question. This guest is now applying for jobs and saving money to move into his own place. Thank you!” – Alicia Mattingly, Day by Day Warming Shelter
“13-year-old Emma* told me that this was the first time she’d ever owned a stick of deodorant or had tampons that she hadn’t had to steal. She repeatedly thanked me, saying that the supplies meant more to her than I could ever know.” – Jillian McCarthy, AVAIL Inc. (*Not her real name)
The Family Radio Network partners with area homeless coalitions and crisis programs by inviting the community to donate needed hygiene items for their local agencies through “Help for the Homeless.” Supplying the crisis programs with laundry soap, hair and dental care items, deodorant, diapers, and other personal care and cleaning products makes it possible for them to dedicate their limited financial resources to providing qualified personnel, education, counseling, safe housing, and nutritious food to those they serve. Note: Food Share (formerly Food Stamps) can only be used to buy food – nothing else. Not soap, diapers or toothpaste. To request a collection box, call Heidi Prahl at 800-236-9364. More info at thefamily.net.
The goal of the drive is to supply a year’s worth of products to each agency. $3.3 million dollars’ worth of hygiene items have been donated through the event to date. More at TheFamily.net or call 800-236-9364.
Donate at: Festival Foods and Walgreens (as well as work, church, or school) through March 8.
Sponsored in Northeast & East Central Wisc. by Festival Foods, Fox Communities Credit Union, McCain Foods, Allcox and Associates, and Fox 11 WLUK
Sponsored in Central Wisc. by Buska and Buska Insurance, Century 21 Gold Key Inc., and Festival Foods
PARTICIPATING AGENCIES:
Northeast Wisconsin – APPLETON/FOX CITIES: Appleton Area School Dist. Homeless Children & Youth Prgm, ADVOCAP Housing Prgm, Apricity, B.A.B.E.S., Inc. Child Abuse Prevention Prgm, Boys & Girls Clubs Runaway Youth Svcs, COTS, Harbor House, LEAVEN, Menasha Joint School Dist. Homeless Children & Youth Prgm, Vida – formerly Mother & Unborn Baby Care, Partnership Community Health Ed. Cntr, Pillars, Riverview Gardens, Ryan Community Housing Prgms, Salvation Army Fox Cities, SOAR Fox Cities CHILTON/CALUMET CNTY: Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul FOND DU LAC: ADVOCAP, Beacon House, Fond du Lac County Social Svcs, Friendship Corner NAMI, New Beginnings Pregnancy Cntr, Solutions Cntr,The Salvation Army, GREEN BAY/BROWN CNTY: Brown Cnty Human Svcs. Child Protective Svcs, Family Services Crisis Cntr/Open Door Youth Svcs, Family Services Housing Services, Freedom House, Golden House, Green Bay Area Schools McKinney Vento Prgm, Green Bay Community Church Circles and The Giving Tree, House of Hope, Howe Resource Cntr, NEWCAP-Permanent Supportive Housing, NEWCAP-Rapid ReHousing, Paul’s Pantry, St John the Evangelist Homeless Shltr, St. Vincent de Paul, The Salvation Army Basic Needs, The Salvation Army/Ecumenical P’ship for Housing (EPH) Trans. Housing Prgm, Wellspring MANITOWOC: Hope House, Lutheran Social Services Runaway & Youth Svcs, InCourage Domestic Violence Shltr, The Salvation Army, The Haven of Manitowoc Cnty, Tee Box Trans. Sober Living, Lakeshore CAP Supportive Housing Prgm, Painting Pathways Clubhouse, Southfield Neighborhood Network Learning Cntr, The Crossing NEW LONDON: The Salvation Army OCONTO/MARINETTE: NEWCAP Marinette (Community Access & Housing), NEWCAP Oconto (Community Access & Housing), Rainbow House Domestic Abuse Svcs (Oconto & Marinette) OSHKOSH: ADVOCAP, Day by Day Warming Shltr., Father Carr’s Place 2B, The Salvation Army SEYMOUR: Community 2000, Seymour Food Pantry, St. Vincent de Paul, The Salvation Army Outagamie Cnty Ext., SHEBOYGAN: Lutheran Social Services – Runaway & Youth Services (RAYS), Lakeshore CAP, Safe Harbor, The Salvation Army, Sheboygan County Interfaith Org. Bridgeway (SCIO), St Vincent de Paul – Plymouth, Catholic Charities
Central Wisconsin: ANTIGO: Avail Inc., MARATHON COUNTY/WAUSAU: Community Cntr of Hope, Community Corner Clubhouse, Peyton’s Promise, The Neighbors’ Place, The Salvation Army of Marathon Cnty, MARSHFIELD: St. Vincent de Paul Outreach, The Hannah Cntr, Mary’s Place Boarding House, Shirley’s House of Hope, PDC Orenda Center STEVENS POINT: Evergreen Community Initiatives – Place of Peace WAUPACA: Agape Center, CAP Services, Foundations for Living Inc., WISCONSIN RAPIDS: The Family Center, (SWEPS) South Wood Emerging Pantry Shelf.
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About The Family: The Family Radio Network, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing contemporary Christian music and programming, as well as community outreach support to Central and Northeast Wisconsin since 1969. The radio network has 10 signals and 4 stations in Wisconsin: 91.9FM WEMI Appleton/Oshkosh, 91.5FM WEMY Green Bay, 91.3FM WSTM Sheboygan, 88.5FM WGNV Wausau/Stevens Point. For more information go to www.thefamily.net.
