Thank you for your interest in serving your community this holiday season! We have listed below many different ways you can get involved. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Sarah Mackesey at 826-3409 or Ellen Carlson at 826-3404.
Thanksgiving
Help purchase Thanksgiving baskets to give to families. This year we are purchasing our basket’s through the Dane County Food Pantry Network’s Thanksgiving Basket Program at the generous price of only $10 per basket. The basket includes everything from the turkey (and a pan to roast it in!) to canned and perishable items. If you are interested in sponsoring a family in this way, please send a check to Middleton Outreach Ministry, with “thanksgiving basket” in the memo line or donate online. We will provide 300 baskets.
Christmas
Please, we ask that you do not donate any individual toys. We don’t have an effective way to distribute them to famlies in need. If you are interested in donating toys, please consider donating them to the Salvation Army. Toys for Tots drop-off sites are located all over Madison and Middleton. Many families who live in our neighborhoods use the Salvation Army gift program instead of the Adopt-A-Family program so your toys will find a good home amongst our community.
Purchase gifts for a family through MOM's AAF Program. People interested in adopting a family are matched with a family for whom they purchase gifts. See the AAF Frequently Asked Questions for more information on the program and to register online.
If you would prefer not to Adopt a Family directly, donate Gift Certificates/Cards (in amounts around $20) to give to families who are not adopted by another family or to give to families who are in greater need. Popular stores in the past have been places such as West Towne Mall, Kohls, Target, Wal-Mart, Toys-R-Us and Old Navy. Many families really enjoy being able to shop for gifts for their children and wouldn’t be able to do so without these donations. Gift Certificates/Cards can be dropped off or mailed to us at the Main Office.
Donate Christmas trimmings and decorations (fake trees, gift certificates for a live tree, tree stands, rolls of wrapping paper, ornaments, etc. - all items should be new or gently used and in good, working condition, please!) Items can be brought to either the Main Office. We’ll distribute these to families who come in to use our services.
Donate Phone cards so our clients can call their families long-distance for the holidays. Gift Certificates can be dropped off or mailed to us at the Main Office.
Put together a Christmas Basket for distribution at our Food Pantry the weeks before Christmas. See the Christmas Basket List for more information on what should be included. Complete baskets can be dropped off at the Distribution Center.
Donate a calculator to help a child in school! One of the most common requests that the School Social Workers receive is for calculators for their children as this is an expensive item that all kids in math need. Consider donating a tool for success by purchasing a TI-30 Solar-powered Calculator (Texas Instruments). This item can be dropped off at the Main Office on Hubbard Ave.
Donate Gift Certificates/Cards to local restaurants and fast-food places. It’s always a special treat for families to be able to take their families out for food, and especially exciting for the children! Gift Certificates/Cards can be dropped off or mailed to us at the Main Office.
Bake Christmas Cookies and treats, and wrap them in small bundles for distribution at our office and Food Pantry. Goodies can be brought to either the Main Office or to our Distribution Center and will be given as a special holiday treat to those who visit us in the weeks before Christmas.
Donate Gift Certificates to local repair shops. This is a gift of safety and peace-of-mind, as well as allowing people to visit their families for the holidays. If you have questions about how you can help in this way, please contact our Client Counselor, Craig Waggoner at 826-3405.
Help an elderly person during this often difficult season. Contact Claudia Miska at 826-3410 to talk over ideas and different possibilities.
Join us at Christmasfest at St. Bernard’s Church and give your gift of fellowship to our neighbors and to others from the community who are joining us for our meal on Christmas Day. Christmasfest is held every year as a gift to the community from members of our 12 churches. No registration needed – the food is delicious (turkey and ham dinner with all the fixins) and it’s free! St. Bernard’s Church is located on the corner of Parmenter and University in Middleton. Dinner is served from Noon ‘till 2pm.
Below are some links on how you can celebrate your Holidays more cheerfully -
Finding Peace and Joy in the Midst of Commercialism Run-Amok – Includes a collection of links, articles and general ideas for re-thinking your personal winter holiday madness http://members.aol.com/SBakerMan2/xmas.html
