Families have until Nov. 15 to sign up for program
By Tracy Ouellette
SLN Staff
The holidays will be here before anyone knows it and Holiday Help of East Troy organizers are urging families in need to get their applications in as soon as possible.
“We only have about 30 families signed up right now,” coordinator Marolyn Komperud said. “We served 83 families last year and it’s hard when everything has to be done at the last minute, so we really want people to get signed up now.”
The deadline for the Holiday Help applications is Nov. 15.
“I know it seems really early to be thinking about Christmas now, but it’s coming faster than you think,” Komperud said. “We have to have everything done by Dec. 17 so the families have time to pick up their gifts. That’s only a month out.”
Holiday Help is a community collaboration led by the East Troy Family Community Resource Center and assisted by the East Troy Food Pantry, Lions Cub, Lioness Club, East Troy Community School District, Women’s Club, First Citizens State Bank, St. James Methodist Church, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School, St. Peter’s Church and School, Helping Hands of St Peter’s, Good Shepherd Church, East Troy Bible Church, Kiwanis Club, Reality Executives Integrity, and Associated Bank.
Families in need of the program are also referred by the East Troy Community School District, food pantry, Helping Hands of St. Peter’s and other venues.
A master list is kept of all registrants and cross checked with the Walworth County Human Services Christmas program to ensure that East Troy families are being served locally.
Gifts donated by local organizations, businesses and community members will be collected at giving tree locations and distributed at East Troy Bible Church.
Volunteers purchase, pick-up, wrap and distribute the gifts.
Giving trees can be found at Reality Executives on the East Troy Village Square, East Troy Bible Church, St. Peter’s Church and Good Shepherd Church from Nov. 19 to Dec. 11.
Associated Bank in East Troy will have a giving tree for the residents of East Troy Manor from Nov. 21 to Dec. 20.
“And new this year we have Dr. Tom Wanezek offering to be a drop off location for stocking stuffers at his office (2564 Main St., East Troy),” Komperud said. “We need things like personal hygiene items, socks, underwear, books, pajamas and other stocking stuffers to have out for the families and they can be dropped off at Wanezek Dentistry.”
The Lions Club will also have its toy barrels out at Frank’s Piggly Wiggly, First Citizens Bank, Dollar General and Citizens Bank in East Troy.
The Family Community Resource Center is also accepting cash donations to be used for food and gas certificates for the families in the program. Donations can be sent to ETFCRC, P.O. Box 962, East Troy, WI 53120.
“We really appreciate any help anyone can give,” Komperud said. “Every little bit helps and the community has been so supportive of us over the years. We can’t thank everyone enough for all they’ve given.”
To apply for the program, contact:
- East Troy Food Pantry, 2847 Austin St., from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays, or at (262) 642 4357;
- East Troy School District social worker Anne Jungwirth at (262) 642- 6760, ext. 5242;
- Diane Hamilton with Helping Hands of St. Peter’s at (262) 642-7225); or
- Komperud at the East Troy Family and Community Resource Center, (262) 642-4900.
Family gift pick-up will be Dec. 17 at East Troy Bible Church, 2660 North St.
Businesses or organizations wishing to donate or adopt a family, may contact Komperud for more information by Nov. 14 at the number above or easttroyfamily@gmail.com.
