Join us for the United Way Experience!

Come see us in action!!

Attend one, two, or more of the events listed above and experience United Way dollars at work!

Below is a comment from an individual who attended visits last year...

"Thank you so much for inviting us to take a look at what United Way is all about. It is a great way to see first hand what we support. I had no idea that we had so many people in need from our community. It just breaks your heart. I am so grateful for United Way. That we are able to reach out and help the less fortunate."

Schedule of Events

Wednesday, August 13, 2014, 12:00pm-1:00pm

• Learn first-hand about the annual backpack and school supply drive by attending the distribution day at Washington Elementary School, 1112 W 11th Street, Marshfield.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014, 7:30am, 12:00pm, or 5:30pm

• Visit Personal Development Center, 214 W 2nd Street, Marshfield, and learn about their Supervised Visitation program.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014, 7:30am, 12:00pm, or 5:30pm

• Visit Kiddie Kaboose located in the Child Care Center of St. Joseph's Hospital and Marshfield Clinic, 601 N Pine Ave, Marshfield.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014, 7:30am or 12:00pm

• Visit the Frederic Oranam transitional shelter at 505 E Depot Street, Marshfield.

Thursday, September 11, 2014, 12:00pm

• Pack lunches for the Nutrition On Weekends program at United Way office, 156 S Central Avenue (use back entrance).

Please direct any questions and RSVP to 715-384-9992 or email unitedway@tznet.com which site visit(s) you're able to attend so we can accommodate all participants. Thank you!

The Annual Backpack & School Supply Drive Begins Monday

It’s that time of year again for Marshfield Area United Way’s Backpack and School Supply drive. For the

last nine years, United Way has worked with Marshfield Clinic to organize this community-wide collection that helps provide hundreds of area children with school supplies. United Way became involved with this project because every child deserves to start the school year with everything they need to be successful.

As Marshfield Area United Way’s intern again this summer, I am more than thrilled to be part of this project. This project means a great deal to me for many reasons. When the backpack and school supply drive first started in 2005, it was organized by Marshfield Clinic’s Employee Assistance Program. My mom, Jeanine Breu, who was an administrative secretary in that department, spear-head the program by organizing, collecting and distributing school supplies to families in need. I am proud to be able to work on the same project that my mom helped create.

As a recent graduate from UWSP with a degree in education, I have experienced first-hand how important it is for students to have all the needed school supplies in order to succeed. Students’ main focus while they are in school should be on the course-work at hand. They shouldn’t need worry about having all the proper tools to participate in class. Providing children with school supplies not only allows them to walk into their classroom on the first day of school prepared, but more confident as well. Imagine what it would feel like to be a child entering a new classroom and new school year where everyone else around you has proper supplies and you don’t.

As a teacher, it is important for me to do all that I can to make a difference in the lives of children and to be a part of their academic success.  You, too, can make a difference by doing something as simple as donating a few supplies. Please consider participating in United Way’s annual backpack and school supply drive from July 28^th until August 10th. For a comprehensive list of school supplies needed and to find out where you can drop-off your donations, please visit marshfieldareunitedway.org.

Alyssa Breu, Summer Intern

Marshfield Area United Way

Have you heard? Brian and Beth Kief Named 2014 Campaign Drive Chairs

Marshfield Area United Way is pleased to announce Brian and Beth Kief as the Drive Chairs for the 2014 United Way Campaign. The Kief’s will lead the annual fall campaign in the community and help United Way in an effort to reach the $830,000 goal set by United Way’s Board of Directors this Spring.

Though the Kief’s have lived in Marshfield for a short while, they feel compelled to ‘pay it forward’ since being so well-received in the community. “We have only been in Marshfield for five years and it seems there are so many other outstanding people in Marshfield.  In the end, though, we said yes because of how we feel about Marshfield; how welcoming so many people have been to us and we believe that United Way is the premier safety net organization in our community.”

Brian is the President of Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital and Beth is a former Physical Education/Health Education teacher who is now an active volunteer in the community. Brian and Beth have two children, Jared and Anna. Jared is a student at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO, and Anna will be a senior this fall at Marshfield Senior High.

The Kief’s are long-time supporters of United Way and learned at an early age the importance of volunteering and giving back to their community. In fact, Brian’s mother was a Campaign Drive Chair for United Way in the early 1980s.

Throughout the campaign this fall, the Kief’s hope to broaden the base of people who are aware of the needs in the community and are willing to engage in finding solutions. “A strength of United Way is to identify organizations in the community that not only help people through a crisis or difficult time but also help them attain skills and identify resources to become self-sustaining members of the community.  As a result, every dollar given to the United Way has a multiplier effect in terms of how it helps people,” said Brian.

When asked what needs they have seen in the community that have surprised or left an impression on them, Brian and Beth were surprised in two ways. “Every individual has a story and a unique life experience that has created their situation of needing help from community organizations.  We are surprised at how often members of our Central Wisconsin communities find themselves in need of help.  What surprises us even more is the amazing commitment and the loving care shown by the people who work and volunteer in the various agencies.  They are role models and inspiration for us all.”

Food For Thought...Expired Food Donations Are Costly

All donated food in these boxes expired in 2013 or before.

Did you participate in this month’s Post Office Food Drive?  If you did, Thank You!  If you didn’t donate expired food, I thank you even more.  The Post Office Food Drive, also known as the National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive collected 16,202 pounds of food on Saturday, May 10^th in Marshfield.  Sounds wonderful, right?  Unfortunately, 13% or 2106 pounds of the food had expiration dates that required the pantries to throw out those items and an additional 4600 pounds or 28% of the donations had expiration dates of the first 6 months of 2014.  The food that is recently expired can be offered to individuals and families on a take on your own risk basis, but can’t be used to fill food orders at the pantries.  As a result, 41% of the food is unusable by the pantries. 

Expired food is a part of every food drive, and instead of helping it creates a new problem, a 2100 pound problem to be exact.   As I am writing this I have a few ”visuals” sitting on my desk: a box of Macaroni and Cheese that expired on December 17^th 1999; a dust covered can of Cream of Broccoli soup that expired in February of 1997; and the big winner (drumroll please) a can of Refried Beans that expired the year after I graduated from high school – hint, I graduated from high school in 1978!  These “winning” food items and their 2100 pound brethren have been hauled and carried and sorted.  They have consumed manpower, gasoline costs and will cost the food pantries yet again for a garbage dumpster as they now have to dispose of these items.  

Expired food also costs in perception since the food panties will report on the amount of pounds of food collected and 16,202 pounds sounds pretty awesome right?  It sounds like the food pantries are well stocked?  This year’s Boy Scout Food Drive brought in half of the amount of food then the previous year’s drive and 25% of that food was expired.  End result, our pantries will need donations to help them through to the next major community collection which is Winter Wonderland in November.  So please consider donating to your favorite food pantry this summer.  And while you are at it, could you be sure it’s not an expired donation?

Paula Jero, Executive Director

Marshfield Area United Way

How Did I Get Myself Into This??!!

Ever wonder how you got talked into something?  I have to admit over the years as the Director of United Way I have worked in every imaginable weather, at all times of the day and night, hauled books, furniture, food, boxes and more.  I have even had a request to get a LIVE UNITED tattoo (haven’t done THAT one yet).  Still the latest request has me pausing, and wondering what did I sign up for?  

I am signed up to participate in United Way’s couch to 5K training program that begins May 12, 2014.  Only problem, I am NOT a runner, I am not young and I don’t exercise.  Period.  End of discussion.  So how did I end up signed up to participate? 

United Way has as its focus Education, Income and Health.  Health, as in promotion of both community health and individual health.  Quite frankly, I could really improve in the individual health area.  I have always been one of those individuals that could eat whatever and not gain weight, but now that I am comfortably in my 50’s, not so much anymore.  I also live on a small farm and wrestling with 60 pound bales of hay is not getting easier.  The old adage of use it or lose it really is at work in my life.  And so, I shall run.  

I invite you to consider joining me.  Is running a 5K something you’ve always wanted to try?  What about exercising or improving your physical health?  If so, this may be just what you are looking for.  There is no cost to participate in the 5K training. The only thing required is a desire to work toward a goal of improved physical health and an interest in gaining new friendships with a built-in support system! The training will conclude at this year’s 5K for United Way on July 12, 2014.  Last year’s participants were rightfully proud of their accomplishment of completing the 5K. 

Interested participants should attend the organizational meeting for the 5K group on Monday, April 28, 2014, at 5:30 p.m. at the Marshfield Area United Way office (156 S Central Ave). Please call United Way at 715-384-9992 with any questions or to RSVP to the meeting on the 28^th.

Paula Jero, Executive Director
Marshfield Area United Way

NOW Program Making An Impact

A few weeks ago I was at the grocery store purchasing food items for the Nutrition On Weekends program. Now that we are serving more than fifty children in Marshfield, alone, I had a cart full of numerous fruits, vegetables and several loaves of bread. As I emptied the contents of the cart onto the conveyor belt, the woman in front of me commented on the oddity of having so many of the same items for purchase.

I explained to the woman that I was shopping for perishable food items for the week’s food packs going to the children in the Nutrition On Weekends program. She said it sounded like a wonderful program. The woman finished her purchase and was exiting the grocery line when I was tapped on the shoulder from behind.

When I turned around the woman behind me said, “My children have been receiving the food packs since October and I have to tell you what a difference it has made for our family. Thank you for everything you do.” Immediately, I (we) began to cry. The woman would have never had to say anything to me about her children receiving the food packs. I thanked for sharing, with me, the impact the program has had on her family.

Since the Nutrition On Weekends program started last October, Marshfield Area United Way has witnessed the program be embraced by the community. Numerous individuals, groups, organizations, and businesses have reached out wanting to help ensure children in our area aren’t facing food insecurities.

As the program expands to help students at additional schools in the area, Marshfield Area United Way is hoping the community continues to respond to the needs of the program. United Way is looking for donations of non-perishable food items and/or cash donations to help offset the costs of providing the weekly food packs for the remainder of the school year.

The following items are a wish list of items for donation:

• Granola Bars (low in fat and sugar)
• Cereal (Raisin Bran or Life)
• Pretzels
• Fruit snacks (low in sugar)
• Baked chips
• Crackers (whole grain)
• Goldfish crackers
• Animal crackers
• Sugar-free jello cups
• Fruit or applesauce cups
• Raisins/Craisins
• Ziploc sandwich bags

Donations can be dropped off at the Marshfield Area United Way weekdays from 8:00 am and 4:30 pm. More information about the Nutrition On Weekends program is available on Marshfield Area United Way’s website (www.marshfieldareaunitedway.org/NOW.html).