Media Releases Archives - United Way of Marathon County

Need Holiday Assistance?

Marathon County has many local programs available to help residents on a limited income during the holiday season. United Way’s 211 can help to locate programs that offer holiday meals, winter clothing, and gifts for children under the age of 18.

Thanksgiving Meals

First Presbyterian Church, 406 Grant St., Wausau, 715-302-2832
- Serving November 28 at 1:00 p.m.
- Delivery available to Wausau and Town of Rib Mountain residents, call for reservations.
Saint Mary School, 716 Market St., Marathon City, 715-443-3124
- Serving November 28 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Delivery available to Marathon City residents, call for reservations.

Christmas Meals

Saint Paul United Church of Christ, 426 Washington St., Wausau, 715-845-2200
- Serving December 25 at 12:00 p.m.
- Carry out available, call for reservations.
Covenant Community Presbyterian Church, 1806 Weston Ave., Schofield, 715-359-6467
- Serving December 25 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Delivery available to Wausau and DC Everest area residents, call for reservations.

Winter Clothing

Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, 503 S. Schmidt Ave., Rothschild, 715-359-4500
- Call Monday – Thursday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. for a private appointment.

Holiday Gifts

Saint Mark Lutheran Church, 600 Stevens Dr., Wausau, 715-848-5511
- Distribution on Friday, December 6 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

For additional information on holiday resources, dial 211 to speak with an Information Specialist, 24/7. Language interpreter service available. Text your zip code to 898211 to reach an Information Specialist Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., by chat Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at www.unitedwaymc.org/get-help or by email at askus@unitedwaymc.org. To search the online database or view publications, go to www.unitedwaymc.org/get-help.

Programs Help Seniors Remain Independent

With advanced age, daily chores or responsibilities that were once simple to maintain can become challenging for senior adults. Restricted finances to pay for needed services and living too far from friends or family to ask for help add to the challenge. United Way’s 211 can help locate local programs aimed to assist seniors with transportation, delivery of hot meals to the home, and home safety installations.

Transportation:

Faith in Action offers free transportation for medical and grocery-shopping purposes for eligible seniors age 60+. For more information, call 715-848-8783.

North Central Health Care provides medical, employment, and nutritional related transportation for seniors age 60+ or individuals with disabilities that are unable to walk. Fees vary depending on distance. For more information, call 715-848-4555.

NOTE: Forward Health members must schedule through Medical Transportation Management at 866-907-1493.

Home Delivered Meals:

Meals on Wheels through the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Central Wisconsin delivers meals to homebound seniors age 60+. Meals are free with a suggested donation of $3.25/meal. For more information, call 715-261-6070.

Home Safety Installation:

Senior Safety Program through Faith in Action offers free installations of grab bars and/or hand railings to help reduce falls for seniors age 60+ who own their home. For a safety assessment, call 715-848-8783.

For additional information on senior assistance services, dial 211 to speak with an Information Specialist, 24/7. Language interpreter service available. Text your zip code to 898211 to reach an Information Specialist Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., by chat Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at www.unitedwaymc.org/get-help or by email at askus@unitedwaymc.org. To search the online database or view publications, go to www.unitedwaymc.org/get-help.

Make A Difference Day October 26

Grab your rake and make a difference!

October 26 is national Make a Difference Day 2019, the largest day of service in the United States.

Locally, United Way Volunteer Connection’s raking project is a huge volunteer effort to help elderly and disabled residents take care of fall yard clean up by raking leaves. Corporate groups, school groups, families and individuals are all welcome to participate. Those interested in raking should sign up in advance, or go to First United Methodist Church between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 26, for a yard assignment.

Spectrum will partner with the United Way of Marathon County during Make a Difference Day. Spectrum will provide Safe and Healthy Home kits, which feature easy-to-install and -use products including a smoke alarm, carbon monoxide detector, weather radio and other cleaning and safety supplies. Volunteers will deliver kits to homes where they are raking.

If you are unable to rake, but want to help, you can make a donation of non-perishable food for local pantries to be distributed by the Marathon County Hunger Coalition, toiletries to be distributed via the Workplace Volunteer Council’s Back to Basics projects, and new or gently used winter outwear for children though adult sizes to be distributed by the Kiwanis. Bring all donations to First United Methodist Church between 8:30 a.m. and 11: 30 a.m. on Make A Difference Day.

More details are available here.

National Diaper Awareness Week

September 23-29, 2019, during National Diaper Awareness Week, organizations across the country are highlighting the struggle that many families with young children face every day.

A child will need over 2500 diapers and 3000 wipes during their first year of life, at a cost of more than $500. For families who are already struggling financially, this additional expense can be a huge strain. SNAP (formerly Food Stamps) funds cannot be used to purchase diapers, wipes, paper products, detergent or hygiene products, and food pantries rarely have those items available.

There is help available through United Way Bundles of Joy. Last year, this program provided 26,000 diapers to local families in crisis. You can help increase the help available to local families by:

1) Dropping off donations of diapers at the United Way office, 705 S. 24th Ave, Suite 400B, Wausau, throughout the year, M-F, 8-5.

2) Registering for the 0.1K Run to Benefit Bundles of Joy scheduled for October 12. All proceeds will be used to purchase emergency diapers and formula for families in crisis in our community. More info and registration links at UnitedWayMC.org.

3) Taking your Christmas gifts to the Gift Wrap booth at Wausau Center Mall between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Volunteers will wrap your packages for a cash donation or package of diapers for Bundles of Joy.

4) Marking your calendar now for United Way’s Community Baby Shower, held each April. Donations of diapers and infant clothing, blankets, etc. are distributed to families in need locally.

Suicide Prevention

Suicide is the 10^th leading cause of death in the US, and risk factors surrounding suicide can often be complex. There are resources in Marathon County that can help residents learn about suicide education and awareness. United Way’s 211 can help connect individuals to resources that offer suicide prevention information and immediate care to those in need.

If you are in immediate crisis or have thoughts about suicide, call the Suicide Prevention Line at 715-845-4326 or 1-800-799-0122.

Prevent Suicide Marathon County offers a Suicide Survivors support group on the 3^rd Tuesday of each month and holds bi-weekly meetings to expand suicide prevention and awareness efforts. For more information on the support group contact Angelica at 715-302-8477, and for the bi-weekly meetings contact Debi at 715-551-0966.

North Central Health Care’s Suicide Prevention Line offers suicide and crisis intervention services, 24/7, by phone at 715-845-4326 or 1-800-799-0122. In-person care is also available 24/7 at the Crisis Center, 1100 Lake View Drive, Wausau.

Center for Suicide Awareness provides text line support, 24/7, for anyone experiencing a difficult time and need support. Text HOPELINE to 741741.

For mental health services and other supportive services in Marathon County, Choosing a Counselor and the Give and Get Help Guide publications are available at https://www.unitedwaymc.org/get-help/211-publications/.

For additional information on suicide prevention or mental health resources, dial 211 to speak with an Information Specialist, 24/7. Language interpreter service available. Text your zip code to 898211 to reach an Information Specialist Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., by chat Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. noon at www.unitedwaymc.org/get-help or by email at askus@unitedwaymc.org. To search the online database or view publications, go to www.unitedwaymc.org/get-help.