East Troy’s annual gift collection underway
By Tracy Ouellette
SLN Staff
Holiday Help of East Troy is celebrating its fourth year this season and are collecting donations.
“There’s a variety of ways people can help,” coordinator Marolyn Komperud said. “This year we’re doing something new and are accepting monetary donations for some things. So like a $20 donation will provide a family a gas gift card at Christmas time. A $50 donation provides a Frank’s Piggly Wiggly gift card for a family.
“We give each family a gas card and food card so they can celebrate the holidays.”
Komperud said one of the things they are in need of is gifts for teens.
“We’re looking for ways to bolster what we can do for teens because they can difficult to buy for,” she said. “Our goal is to have four gifts for each child and it’s easy to get things for the little kids but teens have different needs.”
Komperud said they would like to have gift card in the $10 to $20 range to give the teens some “pocket money” so they do things with their friends and have some fun.”
“Gift cards for local places like the book store, or 2894 on Main, or Gus’s would be great,” she said. “These places are within walking distance and the kids can use the cards when they’re out an about. Movie theater passes are good too. We want to give the teens experiences and opportunities they might not have otherwise. Struggling families don’t always have an extra $15 for the kids to go out and have fun.”
Komperud also said books and movies for young adult are something they need.
“There’s something special about having your own book,” she said. “And appropriate movies are always good, we’re pushing for those this year.”
Another thing they’ve discovered a need for is personal hygiene products for kids and lots and lots of new underwear and socks in sizes from toddler to adult.
“We want to provide these types of things for the kids and families and we don’t want them to be part of the actual ‘gifts’ we want them to be extras,” Komperud said. “People can drop this stuff off at the Resource Center at any time. Even though people have Custom Gifts Ideas, they are not always possible during donations. It doesn’t seem like much, but it really is to a family who doesn’t have to buy that toothbrush during the holidays.
“Everything we had last year went. We didn’t have anything left over.”
Komperud acknowledged it seemed a bit early to be thinking about Christmas gifts, but they need time to get ready for the distribution of the gifts at the end of November.
“Right now it’s 70 degrees out and nobody is thinking Christmas, but our distribution time is coming up faster than you think,” she said with a laugh.
Sign up for families in need is ongoing until Nov. 14. Perspective families in need of the program will be referred by the East Troy Community School District, East Troy Food Pantry, Helping Hands of St. Peter’s and other organizations.
Giving trees will be placed at various community locations on Nov. 18. After Nov. 20, the Lions Club’s toy barrels will be available outside area businesses to collect new toys. Associated Bank will have a giving tree for the residents of East Troy Manor.
Holiday Help began in 2014 as a collaborative way for local organizations to help area families in need. The East Troy Family and Community Resource Center, with Marolyn Komperud as coordinator, will again lead the program.
Other local organizations lending a hand include the food pantry, school district, Lions and Lioness Clubs, First Citizens State Bank, St. James Methodist Church, St. Paul’s Lutheran School, St. Peter’s Church and School, Helping Hands of St. Peter’s, Good Shepherd Church, East Troy Bible Church, Kiwanis Club and Associated Bank.
Reality Executives Integrity will again host a public giving tree for children’s gifts.
Last year, Holiday Help served 87 families with 183 children.
“This is a very generous community,” Komperud said. “The people here are very giving and we’ve had three successful years and looking at a fourth now. It’s been just amazing.
To apply for the program, families and individuals can contact the East Troy Food Pantry at 262-642-4357 or in person at 2847 Austin St. from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays or 2:30 to 4:30 on Thursdays; or call East Troy School District Social Worker Anne Jungwirth at 262-642-6760, ext. 5242, Diane Hamilton of Helping Hands of St. Peter’s at 262-642-7225, or Komperud at 262-642-4900.
Businesses or organizations wishing to participate in donation collections of stocking stuffers or adopting a family should contact Komperud before Nov. 1.
Monetary donations can be mailed to: East Troy Family and Community Resource Center, P.O. Box 962, East Troy, WI 53120. Indicate on the memo of the check the donation is for Holiday Help.
