Keeping Neighbors Warm

media release: It’s that time of year, when days become shorter and families get ready for the winter months ahead. While organizing those closets and drawers, consider donating older or unused items to this year’s winter weather clothing drive, Keeping Neighbors Warm. 

Keeping Neighbors Warm is welcoming gently used or new winter coats, jackets, boots, hats, scarves and snow bibs for all ages beginning Tuesday, Oct. 22, through noon, Tuesday, Nov. 12, at the following drop-off locations: Keva Sports Center (8312 Forsythia Street), Middleton Public Library (7425 Hubbard Avenue), Willy Street Co-op West (6825 University Avenue), and the Middleton Visitors Center (1811 Parmenter Street).

Each week, Visit Middleton staff will collect the winter outerwear items and deliver them to WayForward Resources for distribution. These items go directly to those in the community who are in the most need.

“At WayForward Resources, we are experiencing record demand, serving twice as many people as we did even the year before. That means that the support of the community is more important than ever,” said Leslie Albrecht Huber, strategic engagement director for WayForward. “As we head into the Wisconsin winter, warm winter clothing is essential for every single person in our community (and these donations) mean that families can find what they need here for free, and can then focus their limited incomes on other essential expenses like rent and medical bills.”

This will be the third year for Keeping Neighbors Warm, hosted through Visit Middleton, the City of Middleton’s tourism department, but it will be the ninth year the office has participated in a clothing drive, formerly known as Big Bundle Up. Last year, the City of Middleton donated 623 winter items to WayForward Resources.

“Over the years we have seen donations of hand-knitted hats and scarves, brand new coats with tags still on them, super retro scarves, and sweet little children’s snow overalls that were probably loved greatly and outgrown quickly; everything is welcome and appreciated,” said Mari Olson, director of tourism at Visit Middleton. “I think I’ve said this before, but we don’t gauge the success of Keeping Neighbors Warm by what or how much is donated — or how expensive it is — it’s about living in this community that shows time and again that it truly values its neighbors.”

For more information about Visit Middleton, go to visitmiddleton.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.