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Happy fall! Welcome to “sweater weather.” Fall is a time of pumpkin spice, corn mazes, and Thanksgiving celebrations. We look forward to the color of leaves changing and Halloween, and we hope you do, too. Lots is happening this season at Neighborhood Connection that we hope you’ll find helpful. Coming up we have a winter coat and accessory distribution, Holiday Wishes registration, and of course, the Corner Store monthly specials. 

New Store Hours

We are excited to announce new store hours and more shopping appointments. Thank you to all of you who participated in the shopping hours survey. Based on survey results we have adjusted the times we are open as well as providing more shopping appointments.

The hours that we'll be open for shopping will be:

• Monday thru Thursday | 9:00 AM-12:30 PM
• Wednesday | 4:00-7:00 PM
• Friday | 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
• 1st Saturday of the month | 9:00 AM-4:00 PM

Appointments are still required to shop, so please be sure to make an appointment before you come. To do so, use the Client Shopping Appointments link on our website or call us at (608)849-5740.

Our offices will be open longer hours accepting donations, for volunteering, and for meetings with staff, by appointment. These hours are:

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday | 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Wednesday | 9:00 AM-7:00 PM
• 1^st Saturday of the month | 9:00 AM-4:00 PM

Senior Shopping is Back!

We are once again offering designated shopping hours for seniors 60 and over on the first Friday of the month from 9:30-11:30 AM. Please be sure to make an appointment before you come. To make an appointment, use the Client Shopping Appointments link on our website or call us at (608)849-5740. The Senior Center bus can pick you up here to take you there for lunch if you make arrangements with them ahead of time.

This Month in the Corner Store

It’s hard to believe that fall is here, and the holiday season is almost upon us. Items we’ll be featuring for October and November in the Corner Store can help you prepare. For October, the specials will be costumes and Halloween and fall decorations. Prepare for the spooky day with costumes for adults and children. Going into November, we’ll help you decorate for the holidays with Christmas and winter decorations. 

Winter Coat & Accessory Distribution

Be ready for winter by picking up all the gear you need at our first-ever winter coat and accessory distribution event! The distribution will be by appointment on Friday, October 21 from 9:30-6:30 PM and on Saturday, October 22 from 9:30-4:30 PM at Peace Lutheran Church located at 701 S Century Avenue (two blocks south of WNC). You will be able to pick out winter gear for all members registered in your household.

Please make an appointment online, use the QR code below, or call us at (608)849-5740. 

If you have coats in good condition that you or your household have outgrown, you can donate for others to benefit. They can be dropped off at Neighborhood Connection any time before October 17. Coat donations are NOT required to receive a coat at the distribution.

Upcoming Programs

Women’s Empowerment Group

The group will meet again on Saturday, October 22nd from 10:30-11:30 AM. It will be an informal time to meet and connect with other women who want to make social connections and build a support network. Drop by and enjoy some affirmations, something warm to drink, and a light snack.

English Group

English Group is back up and running. If you are a learner or would like to be a tutor, the group meets at the Waunakee Public Library 201 N. Madison St. Mondays 6:30 – 8:00 pm and Tuesdays 10:00–11:30 AM. If you have not previously attended English Group, please register online so that we know of your interest in participating and can keep you updated about the program.

We will be sending out information in mid-October about how to register for Holiday Wishes and submit your gift wish. The number of families we can accept for this program will be dependent upon the number of donors who register so we cannot guarantee that everyone who applies will be included. 

Winter Weather: Get Prepared

We know that many of you are new to Wisconsin and may not know what to expect with the coming cold weather. There are lots of ways to prepare for the winter. Everything from saving on heating bills to dressing warmly will make the season more enjoyable.

In your home or apartment, you can save on heating costs by keeping the temperature no higher than 68 degrees. Just a 2-degree decrease, from 70 to 68 degrees, may cut your energy expenses by 10%. However, don’t set your thermostat below 55 degrees to ensure that pipes do not freeze and cause damage to your home. Open blinds during the day to let in the warmth of the sun and close them at night to prevent drafts and loss of heat. Check your windows for gaps to make sure hot air is not getting out. If there are gaps, talk to your landlord to see if they will allow you to put up temporary plastic window insulation.

What to wear? The Scandinavian saying of “There’s no bad weather, just inappropriate clothing” is 100% accurate when it comes to winter weather. Get properly outfitted and you can enjoy the lower temperatures of the season for much longer. During winter, temperatures vary from the 40’s to -40 Fahrenheit (4 to -40 Celsius). To dress for this weather, it’s best to wear layers. It might be hard to believe but a t-shirt under a sweater may be a good idea as you may get hot when you are inside a store and want to remove your coat and sweater.

For kids, it is especially important to send them to school with the right gear. As kids go outside for recess rain, snow, or shine, they need clothes that will keep them warm and dry. Pre-K and elementary age children need snow pants, boots, gloves, hat, and coat. Jeans are not enough as they become wet in the snow and do not dry enough during the day. Middle and high school students can go without snow pants, but a warm winter coat, hat, and gloves will protect them from the elements. Adults who spend a lot of time outdoors also benefit from snow or ski pants that fit over the clothes to protect themselves from getting wet and from icy winds. There are also insulated work gloves that help protect hands in harsher conditions.

For Your Information

Have you Received Your Full Child Tax Credit for 2021?

If you don't usually file taxes, a simplified tax filing tool is available through Nov. 15th to claim your Child Tax Credit and any missing amount of your third stimulus payment. Even though the traditional tax deadline has passed, you can still claim thousands of dollars in tax credits! This form usually takes about 15 minutes to complete, and you won't need any tax documents.

Do my children qualify? Your children probably qualify if they lived with you for most of 2021, they were under 18 at the end of 2021, and they were not born in 2022. GetCTC will walk you through a few quick questions to make sure.

How much will I get? The Child Tax Credit for tax year 2021 is up to $3,600 per child under 6, and $3,000 per child age 6-17. If you received any monthly Advance Child Tax Credit payments in 2021, you need to file taxes this year to get the second half of your money. The rest of your Child Tax Credit will be issued in one payment.

If you have not received any Child Tax Credit payments yet, you can file simplified taxes now to get the whole credit.

Am I eligible for the Child Tax Credit if I don’t have a Social Security Number? To be eligible for the Child Tax Credit (CTC), each child claimed must have a Social Security Number (SSN) and each parent must have either a Social Security Number (SSN) or an Individual Taxpayer Identity Number (ITIN).

If you do not currently have an Individual Taxpayer Identity Number (ITIN) but want to claim the Child Tax Credit for your children, you can apply for an ITIN with the support of a certified tax preparer using GetYourRefund.

Need Help with Internet Bills?

Through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), eligible households can receive $30 per month off their internet bills and a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers.

Twenty leading internet providers offer high-speed internet plans for no more than $30 per month, so eligible families who use one of these plans and use their ACP benefit can receive high-speed internet at no cost. Locally, Spectrum is a provider in the program.

You qualify for this program if you meet any one of the following qualifications:

• Your income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level (example: at or below $55,500 for a family of four); or
• You or someone in your household participates in SNAP, Medicaid, WIC, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit, Pell Grant, or Lifeline.

You meet the criteria for a participating provider’s existing low- income internet program.

MyVote Wisconsin is a website designed for Wisconsin voters, both registered and non-registered, that provides voters with registration information, sample ballot, municipal clerk, and polling place information. Your can register to vote online up to 20 days before the election, or in person before the election or on the day of the election. You must have a valid Wisconsin identification and proof of current address. If you do not have an ID you can visit this site to get information on how to obtain one.

COVID Vaccination and At-Home Tests Available

COVID continues to affect lives and schedules. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is providing free at-home rapid COVID-19 tests for all Wisconsinites. Orders can be submitted on the Say Yes to COVID Test webpage at https://www.sayyescovidhometest.org/.

Updated booster vaccinations have been authorized by the FDA and recommended by the Centers for Disease Control. You can check with a local health clinic or pharmacies or visit www.vaccines.gov to find vaccination sites. For free and confidential support in finding health support you can dial 211.

Fall Fun

One traditional Fall activity is to visit a corn maze at a farm. You can search online for “corn maze near me” or you can visit this site for fun fall activities.



What is all the fuss about pumpkin spice? It captures all the flavors of the Fall season. Here is a quick way to make your own pumpkin spice to use in coffee, pies, and sweet potatoes: 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger, 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves. Recipe from allspices.com  

Community Events

Great Pumpkin Smash Dash

Saturday, October 15 | 8:00-11:00 AM

This is an annual fundraising event for Waunakee Neighborhood Connection. If you are interested in participating or volunteering, let us know!

Boo Bash

Wednesday, October 19 | 3:00-6:00 PM

This is a free trick-or-treating event at Waunakee businesses. Start by picking up a map at the Chamber of Commerce office at 100 E. Main Street.

Light the Night with Santa & Holiday Light Parade

Friday, December 2 | 6:30-8:00 PM

The parade will go down Main Street starting at O’Malley and ending at Village Park. Following the parade, there will be family activities at the park and at various businesses along Main Street.