Tourism sites join forces for winter clothing campaign
By Vanessa Lenz
SLN Staff
The Wisconsin Department of Tourism kicked off a campaign last week to help struggling families get winter ready and a host of local tourism sites are joining the warm and fuzzy effort.
The Department’s “The Big Bundle Up” statewide charity drive is collecting new and gently used gloves, hats, scarves, coats, sweaters and other winter gear that will be donated to Wisconsin charities around the state.
Nearly 80 tourism organizations are banding together as collection sites for the statewide effort, which continues through Jan. 4.
The Walworth County Visitors Bureau has committed to serving as donation sites at its two current locations at 203 E. Walworth St. in Elkhorn and 2375 E. Geneva St. in Delavan (Lakelawn Airport).
Donated items will go to the Walworth County Emergency Homeless Shelter – a network of area churches and organizations that take turns using their buildings as a shelter for the homeless during the winter, said Executive Director Kathleen Seeberg. The Visitors Bureau collected items for Inspiration Ministries in 2011.
“The Walworth County Visitors Bureau felt it was important to partner with the Wisconsin Department of Tourism to raise awareness of the needs of our residents in Walworth County and to help a local non-profit organization,” said Seeberg.
Old World Wisconsin, W372 S9727 Highway 67, Eagle, invited visitors to drop off winter clothing during the museum’s holiday programming this month.
Lisa McGovern, Communications for Old World, said donations will go to The Women’s Center of Waukesha.
“When the call came out from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism to join ‘The Big Bundle Up,’ we were happy to help; our guests are wonderful and gave generously to a food drive we held this fall,” McGovern said.
While the museum doesn’t have a specific goal in terms of the number of items collected, McGovern said Old World is optimistic to be able to contribute many warm clothing items to help the clients at The Women’s Center.
“Our visitors have told us that they enjoy sharing our holiday experiences with others – ‘The Big Bundle Up’ is a wonderful way to truly share the spirit of the season with those in need,” McGovern said.
A donation box was located at Old World Wisconsin during the museum’s recent The Spirit of Christmas Past event, the Old World Foundation’s Russian Holiday Dinner, “The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge” dinner theater performances and Breakfast with Father Christmas Dec. 15-16.
It started as a mitten matter
The statewide drive was a result of the “Great Mitten Debate” between Wisconsin and Michigan, which began after Travel Wisconsin featured the Dairy State with a green mitten over it in a promotion last winter.
“Last year’s ‘mitten debate’ with Michigan turned into a very positive charitable campaign,” said Gov. Scott Walker in a news release. “With the support of tourism organizations who have stepped up to serve as collection sites along with the generosity of everyone who makes a donation, we’ll keep the momentum going and help Wisconsin families stay warm this winter.”
The 2011 Great Lakes Mitten Campaign drew national media coverage and generated a collection of more than 3,100 winter items for Wisconsin charities.
Donated items came from as far as Virginia and sparked Wisconsin classrooms and private businesses to contribute.
In addition, the campaign won four national media and public relations awards, including the prestigious U.S. Travel Association’s Mercury Award.
“The response to last year’s charity drive from both the tourism industry and those who donated was incredible. Our tourism partners urged us to continue this as an annual program and make it even bigger,” said Secretary of Tourism Stephanie Klett. “We’re proud of their commitment and shared goal to collect as many winter items as possible for their local communities.”
A complete list of locations is available at www.TravelWisconsin.com.
Area Bundle Up sites
Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce, 113 E. Chestnut St. Suite B, Burlington, (262) 763-6044
Delavan Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, 52 E. Walworth Ave., Delavan, (262) 728-5095
Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce, 244 North Main St., Fort Atkinson, (920) 563-3210
Geneva Lake West Chamber of Commerce, 175 Valley View Drive, Fontana, (262) 275-5102
Hamilton House Bed and Breakfast, 328 W. Main, Whitewater, (262) 473-1900
Lake Geneva Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, 201 Wrigley Dr., Lake Geneva, (262) 248-4416
Old World Wisconsin, W372 S9727 Highway 67, Eagle, (262) 594-6301 (Dec. 14-16)
Walworth County Visitors Bureau, 2375 E. Geneva Street, Delavan; 203 E. Walworth Street, Elkhorn, (262) 723-3980
Whitewater Tourism Council and Whitewater Optimist Club, collecting at Commercial Bank, 200 S Fremont; First Citizens State Bank 207 W. Main St. and 1058 W. Main St. and Associated Bank, 219 Center St. in Whitewater
