Looking to give back this holiday season? Check out just a few of the many Wisconsin food and coat drives with a mission to help your fellow community members.
Bundle Up Kenosha
Kenosha
Keeping Kenosha warm this winter season, Visit Kenosha is hosting a winter-wear drive now through Jan. 12. Donations for new or gently used coats, hats, scarves, mittens or new socks can be dropped off at two area locations as well as a handful of local businesses. For full details on drop-off areas, visit visitkenosha.com.
The River Food Pantry
Dane County/Madison Area
The River Food Pantry is a year-round pantry in Dane County offering free groceries, freshly prepared meals for pick-up and delivery, mobile means and emergency food lockers. Community members looking to help stock the pantry can donate items such as non-perishable food, hygiene items, cleaning supplies, washed garden produce, paper bags and egg cartons as well as an online Amazon wish list of needs. For additional details, drop-off location and times, visit riverfoodpantry.org
VISIT Lake Geneva Bundle Up
Lake Geneva
Clean out your closets and winter gear to donate to VISIT Lake Geneva’s Bundle Up program now through Dec. 31. Needs include coats, sweaters, mittens and other warm-weather items. This year’s donations will be provided to Circle of Friends, a nonprofit organization in Walworth County helping area residents. Donated items can be dropped off at the VISIT Lake Geneva Information Center between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily. For location and additional information, visit visitlakegeneva.com.
Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin
Various locations
A little can go a long way this holiday season with the Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin food drive. This year, the organization is teaming up with local funnyman and host of “Manitowoc Minute” Charlie Berens to say “nOPE to hunger.” Running Nov. 5 through the end of December, donations will be accepted online, where just $1 will help feed provide four healthy meals or at Pick ‘n Save locations, where you can round up your purchase or drop any non-perishable food item in available bins. For more information, visit feedingamericawi.org.
Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin Thanksgiving Food Drive
Racine
Be a hero this season and help local veterans enjoy a warm meal at Thanksgiving. The Racine-based outreach center serves as a food pantry for veterans and surviving spouses in the area as well as providing care packages for Thanksgiving. The center hopes that providing these packages not only nourishes bodies but also brings families together. Collection items currently needed are turkeys, hams, boxed mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, mac and cheese, canned corn, green beans and cranberry sauce. Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin food drive also accepts online monetary donations. For more information, visit vowvillages.com.
Chippewa Valley Cat Club Pet Food Drive
Eau Claire
This annual pet food drive helps families in need across the Chippewa Valley area and seeks donations for pet food, treats and cat litter. All items collected are distributed through the St. Francis Food Pantry in Eau Claire. Last year, the group collected more than 4,000 pounds of food for animals and is looking to increase that in 2023. Donation bins are located at area vets, pet food stores and dog daycares, and the drive takes place Nov. 1 to Dec. 15. For a full list of donation sites, visit www.facebook.com.