Dear friends and neighbors,
This past weekend, we hosted our first donation drive since the pandemic, and it was a great success. So many of you came out to give food, school supplies and personal care items on Saturday and Sunday, and many others made financial gifts. We appreciate it all so much. Thank you for being Hunger SUPER Heroes!
These supplies will help alleviate some of the stress on our families at the start of this new school year. GCC is also making plans to take that help a step further. Our teachers and staff are in the process of planning all-day care and virtual learning assistance for preschool through high-school students. We want to partner with our schools and our families by supporting our children’s academic and community engagement during these challenging times. I’ll keep you updated on what that will look like as those plans solidify.
In the meantime, I want to thank you again for your generous support. We would not be able to serve our community in such a meaningful way if not for your kindness.
Please be safe, be well and take care of each other,
Becky
Becky Steinhoff, Executive Director
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You are a Hunger SUPER Hero! |
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We were blown away by the outpouring of support by so many Hunger SUPER Heroes! The GCC gym is filled with food, school supplies and personal care items, and we will begin distributing those generous donations to families in the coming weeks. Thank you as well to the 28 volunteers who helped us collect, sort and organize all of these wonderful gifts. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: We have the best community ever.
If you didn’t have a chance to make it to the supply drive, there’s still time to be a Hunger SUPER Hero. If you’re able and would like to make a gift online, you can do that here.
Together we can make life just a little easier for our neighbors who need it.
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OUR PROGRAMS
Urban Agriculture
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Our middle school students are staying super active this summer, and getting a fair dose of urban agriculture in the process. They’ve been busy harvesting at the garden – and doing a little taste-testing – and they’ve even been working with bees, learning how to care for hives and harvest honey. This summer may be a little different from previous summers, but it’s certainly not short on fun and new experiences |
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This week, we began our first class of 9 on Time. This is a two-week employment program for teens entering their freshman year of high school. These young people are learning valuable work skills, building their resume, having fun and getting paid. They kicked the week off harvesting fruits and vegetables in the gardens right outside GCC. |
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A couple weeks back, a group of our Elementary Afterschool kiddos took a little fishing trip to Olbrich Park, where they ran into another GCC group canoeing. We’re so fortunate to be within walking distance of so many opportunities for our kids, and our teachers have certainly taken advantage with these mini local adventures. And how did this particular fishing trip turn out? Well, that tiny little fish was the only catch of the day, but the kids and their teacher had plenty of fun. |
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50+ Drive-Thru Coffee Hour |
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Our 50+ drive-thru coffee hour is happening once again this week! This event has proven to be a great way for our older adults to connect with GCC staff and other participants, while staying safely distanced from one another. If you’re 50+ and would like to join, come to the St. Bernard’s parking lot (enter on Corry Street) every Friday from 10am to 11am. Questions? Contact Gayle at gayle@goodmancenter.org or 608-204-8032.
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This weekend, EatStreet dropped off a whole lot of food, school supplies and personal care items to the GCC Hunger SUPER Heroes supply drive. Staff hosted a fundraiser, raising more than $400, and then purchased the supplies. Thank you, EatStreet, for your continued generous support! It’s so nice to have neighbors like you. |
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When Chris from ACD Distribution heard about our Hunger SUPER Heroes supply drive, he got in touch with us to see how he could help, and then he delivered several cases of school supplies: colored pencils, gel pens, thin and thick markers, glue, watercolor paints, chalk and crayons. It was an incredible boost to our supply drive, and all of these will be distributed to our families. (We can think of more than a few kiddos who will be particularly excited about the gel pens!) |
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Due to COVID-19, some of Project Linus’s regular recipients have had to pause blanket deliveries. Nevertheless, the Project Linus Blanketeers have been busy creating and donating blankets, and last week, GCC was lucky to receive a donation of 300 blankets that have been distributed through our food pantry. Even though blankets may not be necessary for warmth in a Wisconsin summer, the security they provide is welcome year-round. |
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COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Bucky Book
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Support the Center, support local businesses, support your pocketbook. That’s a win-win-win! We’ve partnered with the Bucky Book to offer books for sale that directly benefit the Goodman Center. $12 from every book sold will come back to the Center, and each book will be delivered to your home. Books are available for preorder here.
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FOOD OPERATIONS
Drive-Thru Food Pantry
Tues. 9:30 a.m. – noon. Wed. 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Thurs. 12:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.
All are welcome – no need to call ahead. Food is distributed in the Ironworks building parking lot, 149 Waubesa Street, Madison.
Neighborhood Dinners
The Center is managing a neighborhood meal distribution three days a week. Wed. & Thurs. individual dinners; Fri. two family-style meals + pantry bag.
If your family lives in Darbo/Worthington, Brentwood or the Carbon apartment homes at Union Corners and would like to sign up for this service, please visit our website for more information (scroll to the bottom of the page).
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“ I love every single one of you and I so appreciate your dedication to the people of Madison. You rock! ”
- Edith
Every week, we feel the support and generosity of our community, but this was one of those weeks when we were just bursting with it. We could not do the important work happening at the Center without you. Thank you for being there, and, as always…
* Consider yourself hugged. *
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GOODMAN COMMUNITY CENTER
Ironworks: 149 Waubesa Street Brassworks: 214 Waubesa Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53704
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