Your Top FIVE to THRIVE

August 2024

#1 Refugee Families Harvest in 'Our Garden'

Last Week our Marathon County Hunger Coalition invited our community along with ECDC Multicultural Center and some of their refugee families to harvest in “Our Garden.”

The little guy pictured was so excited and eager to help the adults harvest. His eyes grew three times their size after he pulled up some potatoes and realized there were more than one in the ground!

The group harvested onions, potatoes, broccoli, cucumbers, peas, zucchini flowers, and medicinal flowers.

Afterwards, they took bags of the produce home with them and planned on using it to make soup among other dishes.

#2 We're Getting Ready to Kick off the Campaign Kick Off!

This past year, you've heard us talk about our BOLD goal to lift 10,000 community members to financial stability by 2033.

Join us at the kick-off event Thursday, August 29 to hear where we are at with the goal! Get pumped up about the campaign, get your campaign materials and hear fundraising advice from a panel featuring workplace champions.

Plus, a table full of swag, good food....and a service project - the project involves a lot of SOCKS!

#3 Five Days Left to Register - Get Your Ticket to our 2024 Community Bus Tour!

#4 Leave Your Legacy with United Way of Marathon County

August is national Make-a-Will Month and we're letting our supporters know about Free Will. A free and easy service to create a will in about 20 minutes. Here's how it works.

Fill out online

It only takes 20 minutes to fill out the information needed to create your last will and testament.

Print out forms

The information you provide is combined with the precise language of our legal forms and provided back to you as a printable will.

Sign & keep safe

To make your will official, print and sign the will according to the attached instructions. Keep your new will somewhere safe but accessible.

#5 Get Your Farm to FEAST Tickets, Support Access to Fresh Produce

This produce-forward event is how we get fresh produce into the mouths of those who need it most but face financial or geographic barriers.

United Way of Marathon County’s Hunger Coalition is once again teaming up with Red Door Family Farm and Cattail Organics to hold the annual Farm to Feast gathering where funds raised through ticket sales are used to purchase produce from the two local farms.

Some examples of how the funds are used include carrot purchases, CSA-style boxes every week and fresh produce purchases for the Mobile Food Pantry. The food is distributed to local food pantries and service organizations.

The event takes place Saturday, August 17 at Whitewater Music Hall from 6-9 p.m.

Calendar of Events

• Tuesday, August 13: Volunteer Opportunity Mobile Closet at Athens Elementary
• Saturday, August 17: Farm to Feast Gathering
• Thursday, August 22: Community Bus Tour
• Monday August 26-August 30 Options: Volunteer Opportunity Community Closet Seasonal Clothing Transition
• Thursday, August 29: Campaign Kick-Off Event!

Save the Date

• Thursday, September 5: Community Closet Winter Clothing Drive Starts!