FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 29, 2020
Contact:
Heidi Prahl
Donor & Community Relations
Office: 800-236-9364, Desk: 920-702-7856
heidip@thefamily.net | www.thefamily.net
The Family’s 2020 “Help for the Homeless” Hygiene Drive Tops $428,000
89 Wisconsin Crisis Programs Benefit
Appleton, Green Bay, Wausau/Stevens Point, Sheboygan WI – 91.9/91.5/91.3/88.5FM The Family: The Family Radio Network’s 2020 “Help for the Homeless” hygiene drive received more than $428,000 worth of donated hygiene and cleaning supplies this spring for 89 crisis agencies in 15 of their listening communities. Agency staff and volunteers collected, counted and squirreled the donations away in mid-March, just days before COVID-19 restrictions took place. More than 20,000 rolls of nearly-impossible-to-find toilet paper were included in the mix.
Since its beginning in 1992, “Help for the Homeless” donations have provided more than $3.7 million dollars’ worth of hygiene supplies to local Wisconsin crisis programs and those they serve. Donations remain in the communities where they are collected. The goal of “Help for the Homeless” is to supply a year’s worth of products to each agency.
“This could not have come at a better time for us and the nonprofit community. Thank you for making this happen year after year. You are a blessing.” Cindy Sahotsky, Executive Director, COTS
“Last summer, when my marriage of 28 years was about to end, I tried to commit suicide while living in a shelter for battered women. Living in a shelter and having to ask someone for feminine products was one of the most humbling things I’ve ever done. When I left, I was homeless for another 2 months until my doctors gave me permission to return to work. I now have an apartment and I’m doing okay. I’m sharing my story because I want people to know that these women and children are in such crisis mode – from being battered, to sex trafficking, to you name it. They truly appreciate every single item they receive! And the shelter; I’ve never met such wonderful staff! They are truly compassionate, and they still call me to make sure things are going okay.” – Deb
“Kids without laundry soap are wearing dirty, smelly clothes to school – where they’re then often excluded or picked on. In the higher grades they skip school because they’re embarrassed by their soiled clothing and hair. When we can discretely offer them laundry soap, bodywash, deodorant, dental and hair products, it gives them self-confidence, and improves their school attendance and performance. These simple items make a BIG difference for our families. Thank you!” – Yeng Yang, School Social Worker, Menasha Joint School District
“After purchasing our medications every month, we stretch every dime we can. Our ‘home’ is a trailer parked in a friend’s back yard without electricity or running water. When it’s time to shower, do laundry or get food, we go to The Salvation Army. They supply us with everything we need to feel fresh and clean. Every night, when we count our blessings, we count The Salvation Army twice. Thank you for helping!” – “Jeff and Karen”
- Appleton/Fox Cities 2020 sorting day video. $158,000 worth of supplies from 275 collection sites.
- WPS (Wisconsin Public Service) happily participates annually, posting this video on their Facebook page.
The Family works together with area homeless coalitions, inviting people to donate hygiene and cleaning items to their local crisis programs to help the programs direct their limited financial resources to provide qualified staff, counseling, shelter, and food to those they serve.
More than 937 local businesses, churches, and schools participated this spring by placing collection boxes in their high traffic areas and inviting their own staff, members and students to donate.
The Family Radio Network, Inc, along with the 89 crisis programs, thanks everyone who donated, volunteered for, and sponsored the drive this spring!
Save the date! Next year’s dates are Feb.14-March 7. More info at thefamily.net or call 800-236-9364.
Sponsored in Northeast & East Central Wisconsin by Festival Foods, Fox Communities Credit Union, McCain Foods, Allcox and Associates, and Fox 11 WLUK
Sponsored in Central Wisconsin by Festival Foods, Buska and Buska Insurance, Century 21 Gold Key Inc.
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.
