Monday, January 21, 2013
When tragedy hits, people want to help. But often, what arrives at the scene gets in the way because there's too much or it's not needed. Find out better ways to get involved in times of trouble.
Tragedies that break the heart often also come with a desire to help. Superstorm Sandy. The Newtown shooting. But what help to offer? Especially, when you’re far away. Stories of families that lost everything in the storm led to thousands of people sending what they thought was needed to the East Coast. But at some point, donation centers became overwhelmed with the amount sent. Nashua, N.H., firefighters held a clothing drive after Sandy hit. Within two weeks of the storm, the Nashua Telegraph reported the firefighters were overwhelmed with clothing donations—but still needed gift cards and cash. After the Newtown shooting, the same thing happened. According to CNN, Newtown First Selectman Patricia Llodra said“Our hearts are warmed by …
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Retired firefighter Bruce Bowen and his nephew are driving a trailer and an SUV stuffed with donations for Hurricane Sandy relief in Toms River, New Jersey.
The generosity of Cheeseheads is on its way to the hurricane ravaged neighborhoods of Toms River, New Jersey. Retired firefighter Bruce Bowen and his nephew, Adam Peterson, are hauling a 24' trailer stuffed to the ceiling with a heavy-duty pick-up with its bed packed and secured. Both the trailer and the truck are donated by Tom's Trailers in Menomonee Falls and Peterson Express, LLC, in Waterford, respectively. They also have a large SUV stuffed to the gills. In just over three weeks, hundreds of pounds of goods from clothing to paper products to shovels to everything in between has been donated by residents across the state. The pair got the idea on Halloween and utilized their contacts on Facebook and in a few communities to get the …
Monday, November 19, 2012
Folks from far and wide dropped off everything from paper goods to laundry soap to clothing in Sturtevant, and with special help from Wauwatosa and Menomonee Falls donors, Wind Lake man will drive it all to New Jersey to help storm victims.
Americans on the East Coast still need relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Thanks to the idea of a retired Wind Lake firefighter and the generosity of residents from nearby and across the state, hundreds of pounds of supplies will be delivered to Toms River, New Jersey, by Friday. Bruce Bowen and his nephew, Adam Peterson, were just hanging out on Halloween when they got to talking about how much was needed in New Jersey and New York after Hurricane Sandy swept away the lives of so many people. The two plan to leave Wednesday and drive in hitches to the East Coast and Toms River. There's still a little room left in their trailer for last-minute donations. "It was a really fast discussion," Bowen said Monday. "We talked about how…
Monday, August 20, 2012
A new report by The Chronicle of Philanthropy ranks Wisconsin 44th out of 50 states in charitable giving. The Milwaukee area fares little better, with a donation rate of 3.9 percent it clocks in at 42nd out of the country's 50 largest metro areas.
Wisconsin ranks near the bottom in charitable giving across the country, and the Milwaukee area is no different, according to a special report by The Chronicle of Philanthropy. The report, America Gives, analyzed IRS data to determine the rate of charitable giving across states and metro areas, and compared that with the states’ political leanings and the prevalence of religion. America Gives was released today. Wisconsin was 44th out of the 50 states, and Milwaukee 42nd of the 50 largest metro areas. Statewide contributions in 2008 were about $2 billion, with a median donation of $1,747, about 3.4 percent of the median discretionary income of $51,392. Total Milwaukee contributions in 2008 were $842.9 million. The median contribution here…
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Familiar customer seen in video wrapping charity box in his coat and making off.
- GOVERNMENT
- Jim Price
-
Thursday, January 5, 2012
We've had a kid's tip jar stolen, churches broken into, a cemetery robbed of copper vases, and now a new category under the heading of "How low can you go?": Stealing donations intended to help very ill children and their families. At 3:47 p.m. Friday, an employee of Yo Mama frozen yogurt shop, 1349 Wauwatosa Ave., reported to police that a customer had stolen their Ronald McDonald House donation box, containing about $50, off the counter. She told police the man had been in the shop twice before within the past week and a half to talk about yogurt cakes. On Friday, she said, they had been talking about cake pans, and she had to briefly leave the counter to get a spatula. When she returned, he was gone and so was the donation box. In …
43.050055
-88.007331
1349 N Wauwatosa Ave, Wauwatosa, WI
Yo Mama Yogurt
/articles/theft-of-donation-box-from-yo-mama
/locations/6137396
43.045439
-88.024078
8948 W Watertown Plank Rd, Wauwatosa, WI
Ronald McDonald House
/articles/theft-of-donation-box-from-yo-mama
/locations/6137397
Saturday, December 24, 2011
... pantry president stresses that the need for generosity is year-round.
The holiday season has many Wauwatosa residents feeling generous, and many have made donations to the Wauwatosa Community Food Pantry, located in St. Bernard Parish, 7474 Harwood Ave. Mary Ann Hamill, the Food Pantry president, said that this time of year sees the highest spike in contributions from the community. “Right now is a time of very heavy donation,” she said, gesturing at fully stocked shelves. In fact, she said Friday, there is more than meets the eye. "We just got a big truckload in a single donation," she said. "It's all in a store room right now because there isn't space for it all on the shelves. We'll bring it out as needed. "A parishoner bought it all at Sendik's – he must have spent $800." Hamill explained that the …
43.05053
-88.00623
St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish of Wauwatosa
7474 Harwood Ave, Milwaukee, WI
/articles/wauwatosa-food-pantry-shelves-are-stocked-full-for-the-holidays
1579772
/locations/6069807
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Singing his way through every shift, Salvation Army worker lifts spirits and prompts giving.
- VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEWS
- Jim Price
-
Thursday, December 22, 2011
For four years running, shoppers at Pick 'n Save on State Street have been treated to an extra helping of holiday cheer. Salvation Army bell ringer Arvie Vaulx Jr. keeps music in the air by caroling his way through every shift, every day. No matter how cold or windy the weather, Vaulx warms his pipes non-stop for eight hours while minding his donation kettle and accompanying himself on twin, tinkling handbells. While not everyone stops to listen, Vaulx has built up a fan base and friendships over four Christmas seasons – and he believes his singing does help with donations. "Sometimes people get all the way to the parking lot, out to their cars, and then they come back," he said. "They say, 'The singing brought me back.' "One fellow I've …
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Better Business Bureau says charity hasn't renewed expired license since 2006.
According to a press release from the Better Business Bureau: You may have seen the ads in local community newspapers or heard the radio ads, including a catchy jingle that says, “Be a star, donate your car.” The charity behind the advertisements is Heritage For The Blind, a Brooklyn, New York-based organization, that, according to its website, works to help the blind and visually impaired and offers free information about vision loss and eye disorders. It has no office in Wisconsin, but is heavily advertising here, currently asking people to donate their “vehicles, boats and RV’s” and is actually offering a “free 3-day vacation” for doing so. According to the vacation offer’s details, “Donors will enjoy a 2-night hotel stay in the city …
Thursday, September 8, 2011
BBB says not all charities are legitimate, so be careful as 9/11 anniversary approaches.
- BUSINESS
-
Thursday, September 8, 2011
The anniversary of the terroroist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, is quickly approaching, envoking painful memories and for some, the urge to give back. But the Better Business Bureau wants to remind donors to keep a watchful eye out as scammers may try to take advantage of those willing to help out. In a press release issued Thursday, the BBB took a look at a recent Associated Press investigation which found that many 9/11 charities “failed miserably” in serving victims, their families and their memories, while continuing to collect donations. This past week, the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs warned that a scammer was calling residents in Northeast Wisconsin fraudulently soliciting donations for a veterans’ clinic in Green Bay. More…
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Wisconsin-Humane Society Ozaukee Campus sees spike in adoptions after widower agrees to donate $100 per adopted pet.
Editor's note: The original version of this story read that Stan Kass filled the hole in his heart by adopting a dog named Reggie. It has since been changed to reflect that Kass and his wife had actually adopted the dog earlier in life. When Stan Kass lost his beloved wife of 56 years to cancer last year, he filled the hole in his heart with his adopted dog named Reggie. Now he’s opening doors to other hearts — for people and pets — with a $100 donation for every pet adopted at the Wisconsin Humane Society up to $100,000, said Angela Speed, spokesperson for the WHS. "They say people help animals," Kass said in a recent WISN.com interview. "I think animals help people. I’m finding that out in the last year since my wife passed away." Of …
Kathy
8:33 am on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
My sister does fund raising for local families. She takes in anything and everything and distributes locally to the people that fall through the cracks of other efforts. Her home is a diaster but it is a labor of love for her and thankfully this year she has more help. Community for a Better Tomorrow more ›