Giving locations announced for Holiday Help program
By Tracy Ouellette
SLN Staff
Each year, the East Troy Family and Community Resource Center and multiple partners, team up in the Holiday Help of East Troy program to provide local families in need a joyous holiday.
Families are referred to the program by the East Troy School District, East Troy Food Pantry, St. Peter’s Church and other venues.
Around the middle of November, giving trees and locations open for donations until mid-December.
The program is funded through donations and Resource Center fundraisers, like the Nov. 3 silent auction at the Lake Beulah Yacht Club.
Another fundraiser, the Mountain Top Beer Fest, is set for Saturday, Dec. 1, at Alpine Valley in East Troy. A portion of the ticket sales and all of the raffle sales are donated to Holiday Help.
“We raised a good chunk of change at the Beer Fest last year,” Holiday Help organizer Marolyn Komperud said. “And this year we’ll have snow, we didn’t last year, so we’re hoping for a good turn out. We’re really happy to have them partner with us on this.”
With the giving locations open, Komperud said they counting on the community’s generosity to once again fill the stockings of the area’s children who may not otherwise have much of a Christmas.
“We have less families as a whole this year, but more children. We just have a lot more bigger families this year,” Komperud said. “We have about 73 families to help with more than 170 kids at last count.”
Komperud said the additional children means they are looking for more toys and gifts for teens this year.
“The kids are asking for things like Pokemon, Barbie, cars, trucks, LEGO, and other toys. And art supplies, we have a lot of girls asking for arts and crafts,” Komperud said.
The Lions Club will have their toy barrels at East Troy’s Citizens Bank, Dollar General, First Citizens State Bank and Frank’s Piggly Wiggly until Dec. 10.
For the teens, gift cards in $10 to $20 increments are something that worked out well last year for that age group.
“It gives them some spending money with their friends,” Komperud said.
New this year is the personal hygiene products drive, which is something everyone in the family can use.
“It just helps out during the year when families don’t have to spend money on deodorant or shampoo and can use those dollars elsewhere,” Komperud said. “We need everything, for every age – body washes, Chapstick, shampoo, conditioner, combs, brushes, toilet paper, feminine hygiene product, we really want to expand on this.
“This is the first year we’re asking for this stuff in the drive and it’s a great way for a little money to go a long way.”
Martin’s Hardware Rental and Pet, 3288 Main St., East Troy, will be collecting hygiene products: toothbrush, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, toilet paper, paper towels, body wash, soap, combs, hairbrushes, lotions, deodorant, makeup, hair care products, etc. until Dec. 10.
“We also need lots of socks and underwear,” Komperud said. “Kids wear them every day and they wear out and they’re not cheap to replace. You wouldn’t believe how helpful a couple extra packages of socks or underwear can be.”
Other locations
Community members looking to contribute to Holiday Help of East Troy for area families in need have several ways to donate.
Giving trees to purchase gifts for local children will be at East Troy Bible Church, Good Shepherd Church, Realty Executives Integrity on the Village Square and St. Peter’s Catholic Church until Dec. 10
A giving tree to purchase gifts for residents of East Troy Manor will be at Associated Bank in East Troy until Dec. 21.
The East Troy Lioness Club will be collecting hats, gloves, socks and slippers at First Citizens State Bank until Dec. 7.
Citizens Bank East Brooke Branch, 2541 E. Main St., East Troy, will be collecting donations of new children’s through young adult pajamas, socks and underwear until Dec. 10.
Wanezek Family Dentistry, 2564 Main St., East Troy, will be general donation sites for new un-wrapped gifts of: Children’s pajamas, socks and underwear in sizes toddler through young adult, children’s hygiene products (soaps, scrubbies, hair ties, shampoo/conditioner, tooth- paste/toothbrushes), gift cards and monetary donations until Dec. 10.
Monetary donations can be sent to: East Troy Family Community Resource Center, P.O. Box 962, East Troy, WI 53120. Note that the donation is for the Holiday Help program.
“We’re always so thankful for how wonderful this community is and how supportive they are of this program. We’re very fortunate to be part of this community and program; it’s just a great event,” Komperud said.
Holiday Help of East Troy is organized by Komperud and the East Troy Family and Community Resource Center. The program is a community partnership with: Associated Bank, Citizens Bank, East Troy Bible Church, East Troy Community School District, East Troy Food Pantry, East Troy Kiwanis Club, East Troy Lions Club, East Troy Lioness Club, First Citizen’s State Bank, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Helping Hands of St. Peter’s Church, Martin’s Hardware – Rental and Pet, St. James United Methodist Church, St. Paul’s Church and School, St. Peter’s Church and School and Realty Executives Integrity.
For more information, call the Resource Center at 262-642-4909.
