GIVING BACK
The heartbeat of a community is the way it wraps its arms around people in need. Now more than ever, we'll need to rally around our non-profits as they work overtime in many ways to meet the demands of a community in challenging times.
Here are some ways you can give back to the organizations that do so much for our region, 365 days a year.
Support dozens of local non-profits through this emergency fund!
Eau Claire Community Foundation
We are grateful to live in such an amazing community. We applaud the Eau Claire Community Foundation for its quick work alongside the United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley to get a fund going to support non-profits during COVID-19.
If you'd like to donate, click on the link below.
https://eccfwi.org/opportunities/quick-response-emergency-fund-updated-information/
Our co-owner, Sarah Stokes, is a proud Trustee for the Eau Claire Community Foundation and thanks everyone who has given to this emergency fund!
Fostering the Future Fund
In 2012, our own Sarah Stokes partnered with Lutheran Social Services of WI & Upper MI to create the Fostering the Future Fund, a 501(c)(3).
All the money raised goes to unmet needs of kids in foster care across the region. You can donate anytime and it pays for things like sports fees, summer camps, even an egress window to build a legal bedroom for a child who loved his foster home but couldn't stay unless the family added another bedroom. These are the moments this fund can save the day.
This photo is one way we were thrilled to donate this year...Sarah gave a training keynote to the wonderful folks at Northwestern Bank and they so kindly donated her honorarium to the Fostering the Future Fund!
Send donations to: Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan and in the memo line please write: Fostering the Future Fund.
120 S Barstow St Eau Claire, WI 54701.
New Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin Mentoring Emergency Fund
Sarah Stokes is an Ambassador for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin’s Mentoring Emergency Fund. This virtual fundraiser was created to support the agency to keep kids connected to their mentors during these unprecedented times.
Due to current restrictions surrounding the pandemic, the agency has canceled or postponed several events, causing financial setbacks that could affect its ability to provide support to its one-to-one mentoring program. It’s also making it more difficult to create new matches; and considering the great need, this is a big shame. That's why Sarah is working to help this agency continue the important work they do.
Will you donate $10 or more? Will you forward this message to 10 of your friends, asking them to do the same? I know together we can raise the funds needed for the agency to maintain matches, as well as, create new matches during this time of crisis. All funds raised stay in our local communities. They’ve setup a special website at www.bbbsnw.org/emergency
Thank you for your generosity and your support of Big Brothers Big Sisters and the children they serve.
Feed My People Food Bank
There are so many heroes at work in our communities and we are proud to help Feed My People Food Bank with donated videos to assist them in telling their story.
A new initiative to help: Sarah Stokes launched a new daily mentorship called "Juicy 365" for women through our sister company, The Juicy Good Life, and is donating to Feed My People with each monthly membership.
https://www.thejuicygoodlife.com/mentorship
Click here to read more in the blog post.
Thank you to all the volunteers and staff for feeding our communities!
Hope Gospel Center:
Stock the Shelter
The Hope Renewal Center for Women and Children is up and running but is still in need of everyday supplies such as diapers, wipes, diaper rash cream, and all the stuff we know goes along with raising little ones!
To donate: https://www.hopegospelmission.org/donate/
Grace Lutheran Communities:
Supplying Grace
Grace Lutheran Communities is launching a giving campaign fundraiser for their amazing caregivers’ safety and morale.
Grace Lutheran Communities is doing its best as an organization to supply personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning supplies for staff at its numerous senior care communities across the Chippewa Valley, but due to shortages and price increases, it is taxing the non-profit’s resources like never before. To keep staff and residents safe, healthy, and happy Grace Lutheran Communities appreciates any and all donation sizes.
To donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/supply-grace
Eau Claire Strong Shirt Proceeds Donated to the Eau Claire Community Foundation
We sold Eau Claire Strong shirts to raise money for the Eau Claire Community Foundation!
Ambient Inks gave $10 of the $25 shirt to the local businesses, but we gave ALL of our proceeds from the shirts to the Eau Claire Community Foundation so they can continue their great work with local nonprofits.
Trinity Equestrian Center
COVID-19 has made it very hard for Trinity Equestrian Center to provide their crucial Equine Assisted Therapy and Youth Mentoring services to the nearly 200 clients they nornally serve every week. Kids, adults, families, veterans, survivors of trafficking, abuse, neglect, bullying, you name it!
Their mission is to connect people, horses and God to provide Hope & Healing. They do it through their remarkable team of people and horses.
This is a challenge for them, and yet the horses still need their hay, and bills still need to be paid. They could use our help.
Any donation are appreciated. Thank you in advance for your contribution to the place that has blessed so many, including me.
Donate to their GoFundMe here: https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/trinity-needs-our-help1/marge-fortun
For more information about Trinity Equestrian Center, please visit www.trinity-ec.com
Food Pantry Grant Fundraiser
Food Pantry Use at Trinity Lutheran Church in Eau Claire has grown by 20% already. While some food pantries reduce hours, this pantry is extending hours.
Support our Matching Grant Fundraiser: Continuing to Feed Our Neighbors
Donate your gift here: https://support.elca.org/site/TR/Events/General…
Trinity is partnering with ELCA World Hunger to raise funds for our Food Pantry through a Daily Bread Matching Grant (a part of the ELCA's response to the COVID-19 pandemic)
We need your help to make sure we generate the maximum amount of support for our neighbors during this difficult time. ELCA World Hunger is kickstarting our fundraiser with a $500 grant. Food pantry usage at Trinity has grown by 20% since the pandemic began, and we anticipate more need as people are out of work longer, dealing with medical bills, etc. With your help, we can raise $5000 or more to match the grant from ELCA World Hunger. We have until Sunday, April 19 to meet our goal. Every gift truly makes a difference — thank you for your support!