Another year is passing, as we march toward the shortest day of the year – the Winter Solstice on Saturday, Dec. 21. The jollity of the holiday season helps us get through the dark time of the year, but it’s also a good time to remember those less fortunate.
There are causes that are worth supporting to help create a vision of the world we’d like to leave our children. For this reason, it’s a good time of year to think about how you can give back to your community.
Giving Tuesday, which this year occurs on December 2, in the midst of holiday shopping and celebrations, is a great time to think about making a charitable gift to the organization of your choice.
Food Pantries
The recent scare with FoodShare (SNAP) benefits brought issues of food insecurity in our communities into sharp focus for many. Despite the federal Continuing Resolution that has funded SNAP through January, the future of the program remains unknown. Also, federal cuts in other areas have threatened other programs that provide food to local food pantries.
So, helping hard-working families in our community keep food on the table could be a top priority for many in the holiday giving season. Here are some local options where a contribution could make a difference:
Gays Mills Food Pantry: The inflation that has followed the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with the ending of the extra aid for struggling families during that time, has left many families in need of basic necessities such as food. The need is great and funds remain scarce. The pantry can use donations of non-perishable food items or financial donations. Donations can be dropped off or mailed to 120 Sunset Ridge, Suite 122, Gays Mills, WI 54631, 608-734-3217 (Kent Salmon. Pantry hours are the first, second, and third Wednesday every month from 2 to 4 p.m. The food pantry is also open on the first Saturday of every month, 9 to 10 a.m.
Couleecap Food Pantry: Couleecap partners with local food pantries, meal sites, and shelters across Crawford, La Crosse, Monroe, and Vernon counties to ensure community members facing food insecurity can access nutritious groceries and meals when they need them most. As a designated Emergency Food Organization, Couleecap helps administer The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) by coordinating the distribution of government-provided food to eligible pantry partners. This allows our partner sites to serve individuals and families with dignity and care, offering a variety of essential food items. To donate, go to the Couleecap website, and click on the donate button. If you prefer to send a check, make checks payable to Couleecap, Inc. and mail to: Couleecap, Inc., Attn: Marketing Coordinator, 201 Melby Street, Westby, WI 54667.
Deer Donation Program: One of the keenest needs of local pantries is for protein, and donated deer will be turned into ground venison and donated to local pantries, helping to fill this critical need. Participating lockers in our area are as follows: Crawford County: Eastman Locker, 107 N. Main Street, Eastman, 608-874-4331. Due to being ex-tremely busy with their reg-ular processing, and staffing issues, the Locker will only accept whole donation deer and venison trim this deer season – they will not ac-cept whole deer for personal processing. Those who do-nate a deer for local food pantries will be entered to win a $50 gift card, with the drawing to take place on January 2; and in Vernon County: Westby Locker & Meat, 406 N. Main Street, Westby, 608-634-4515.
Gays Mills
Friends of Gays Mills
The Friends of Gays Mills has raised funds to repair the roof of the old Community Building, and currently they are busy setting up the ‘Mill House Lights,’ a holiday lights display in Robb Park by the dam. For more information you can contact Tara Heisz at 608-606-9899.
Donations to the ‘Friends’ can be mailed to the Village of Gays Mills, 16381 State Hwy. 131, Suite 1, Gays Mills, WI 54631.
Soldiers Grove
The Red Coats of the Soldiers Grove Fire Department are hosting a community food drive to help neighbors in need, and also their annual Toy Drive.
The Soldiers Grove Village Office is the drop-off location for the Food Drive, and donations of non-perishable food items are sought. In particular, donations of canned vegetables, beans and soup, rice, pasta, cereal, shelf-stable milk, baby formula, peanut butter and other sources of canned protein, cooking oil and spices are appreciated.
The Redcoats are once again also holding their annual Christmas Toy Drive, to help make the holiday great for families in need. They are accepting monetary donations through December 19, and checks should be made payable to ‘Soldiers Grove Redcoats,’ with ‘Toy Drive’ in the memo section. Checks can be mailed to Village of Soldiers Grove, P.O. Box 121, Soldiers Grove, WI 54655.
Public Libraries
Gays Mills Library, Friends of the Library – send checks to Gays Mills Public Library, 16381 State Highway 131, Gays Mills, WI 54631. In the check memo, write ‘Friends of the Library.’
Soldiers Grove Library, Friends of the Library – send checks to Soldiers Grove Public Library, Soldiers Grove, WI 54655 In the check memo, write ‘Friends of the Library.’
Fire and Rescue
Ocooch Mountain Rescue, Gays Mills. Send checks to 111 North Royal Avenue, Gays Mills, WI, 54631. Put ‘Donation’ in the memo line.
Seneca Fire and First Responders: P.O. Box 211, Seneca, WI 54654. Put ‘Donation’ in the memo line.
Gays Mills Volunteer Fire Department, 16381 State Highway 131, Gays Mills, WI 54631. Put ‘Donation’ in the memo line.
Soldiers Grove Volunteer Fire Department, 100 Passive Sun Drive, Soldiers Grove, WI 54655. Put ‘Donation’ in the memo line.
North Crawford Rescue Squad, 102 Legion Drive, Soldiers Grove, WI 54655. Put ‘Donation’ in the memo line.
Ferryville Fire Department: 170 Pine Street, Ferryville, WI, 54628
Education
Richland Area Retired Educators Association: Cash donations are used locally to purchase appropriate school supplies. Donations will be accepted through Wednesday, December 31. Send donations to RAREA, checks payable to RAREA, at 269 South Park Street, Richland Center, WI 53581-2303.
North Crawford Community Education Foundation: the North Crawford Community Education Foundation provides private resources to enhance educational projects and programs of the North Crawford School District and provides scholarship awards to North Crawford graduating high school seniors who pursue post-secondary education. Donations to the established funds may be made online at www.cfsw.org/give-now/ and by mail at NCCEF, 47050 County Rd X, Soldiers Grove WI 54655.
Seneca Education Foundation: the school district, teachers, and students receive tremendous support from the Seneca Education Foundation–from Chromebooks to supplies.
Southwest Tech
The ‘Charger Dream Fund’ is a fund at the Southwest Tech Foundation to provide emergency grants to students who are faced with an unexpected financial emergency that may cause them to drop out of school. A small grant can help a student stay in school and complete their degree. Those who are interested in joining Southwest Tech’s #GivingTuesday initiative can visit www.swtc.edu/foundation and click on the Donate Now! Button.
Conservation
Crawford Stewardship Project: CSPs mission is to protect the environment of Crawford County and neighboring regions from threats of polluting and extractive industries, to promote sustainable land use, environmental justice, and local control of natural resources.
CSP has been involved in training citizen scientists in water quality monitoring, surface water quality monitoring, mapping of the county’s sinkholes, well water testing and community conservation education events.
Donations can be sent to: Crawford Stewardship Project, P.O. Box 284, Gays Mills, WI 54631.
Valley Stewardship Network: VSN works to protect the land and waters of the Kickapoo Valley and neighboring watersheds through water quality research, public engagement, education outreach, and networking that involves community in stewardship for the social and economic benefits of sustainable agriculture, land use, and recreation.
VSN trains citizen scientist volunteers, helps to foster farmer-led watershed councils, and community conservation education events. Donations can be sent to 110 S. Main Street, Viroqua, WI 54665.
Friends of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway (FLOW) may be best known for its leadership in establishing the ‘Kids Don’t Float’ life vest loaner kiosks at boat landings up and down the Wisconsin River. Every year, FLOW volunteers log as much as 4,000 miles driving up and down the Riverway, ensuring that the kiosks are stocked.
To donate to FLOW, send checks made out to Friends of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway to P.O. Box 614, Spring Green, WI 53588, or go to their website at https://www.wisconsinriverfriends.org/, and click on the ‘Donate’ button.
Trout Unlimited Driftless Area Restoration Effort: TUDARE is currently raising funds to support a stream crossing inventory, similar to the one recently completed in Monroe County over the last two years. They are currently fundraising for Trempealeau, Jackson, Crawford and Richland counties. Funds will be used to employ interns who can, working with WDNR, inventory stream crossings that allow county and town governments to better position themselves to prioritize work, obtain funding, and promote aquatic habitat and fish passage. To donate, send checks with ‘TUDARE’ in the memo line to Trout Unlimited, Inc., 1777 N. Kent Street, Ste. 100, Arlington, VA 22209, or call 1-800-834-2419 and request to make a credit card donation restricted to Trout Unlimited’s Driftless program work.
Friends of Vernon County Parks & Forests: You can now donate via Paypal to the Friends of Vernon County Parks & Forests. Simply visit our website at https://vernoncountyfriends.org. All donations are tax-deductible.
Economic Development
Crawford County Community Foundation: the Crawford County Community Fund was established in 2008 as a permanent endowment for the benefit of the county. The fund’s mission is to support economic development in the county. Once per year, a portion of the fund’s earnings are returned to area communities in the form of grants for projects consistent with the fund’s mission. Donations to the Crawford County Community Fund are tax deductible, and can be mailed to P.O. Box 13, Seneca, WI 54654.
Community Wellness
InHealth Community Wellness Clinic: the Mission of InHealth Community Wellness Clinic is to strengthen community health and wellbeing by providing free basic health services for the uninsured through the help of volunteers, local health services and community support. We promote education supporting personal health and wellbeing and work to assist the ongoing needs of our patients. Donations can be sent to 109 East Bluff Street, Box 35, Boscobel, Wisconsin, 53805.
Passages Shelter: a private, non-profit organization with the mission of supporting those individuals affected by domestic violence and sexual assault. Passages has a 20-bed shelter for individuals needing emergency safety housing. Passages also operates a 16-unit housing complex for families coming through the shelter or for families with low income. Passages offers options counseling in the areas of medical and legal advocacy, sexual assault services and youth services. Donations can be sent to P.O. Box 546, Richland Center, WI 53581. In addition to cash donations, Passages is also always in need of clean clothing for women and children, and women’s personal care and sanitary supplies.
Rivers and Bluffs Animal Shelter: a passionate advocate that will provide quality care for companion animals in need as we seek their forever homes and educate the community about responsible pet ownership. Donations can be sent to P.O. Box 421 Prairie du Chien, WI 53821. Your donation is tax deductible.
News/entertainment
WDRT- Driftless Community Radio, 91.9 FM, 311 S. Main Street, Viroqua, WI 54665
