November 2022 // A Community Newsletter
Dear friends and neighbors,
Where I come from, food is love. Every major moment is marked by a big family meal, and of course, for the holidays, we do it up right. When I was a kid, it was my mom in the kitchen. Now that I'm a mom and grandma, it's me cooking up the turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy.

Most of us have similar traditions and memories, and you may be planning for your own Thanksgiving feast already. For many in our community, those plans are more fraught. They're not sure if they'll be able to afford a big family meal. Or, maybe they are sure, certain that they won't be able to pull it off this year.
Our Thanksgiving Basket Drive, a tradition in its 34th year, will ensure that at least 4,000 of those families know where their holiday groceries are coming from: Us.

We can't let those families down, and we need your help.

This year feels different. In many ways, the pandemic is in our rearview mirror as we look forward to what's ahead. In many other ways, the hardships the last two years brought are still very much with us. Inflation is making things tough – really tough – on families this year. I bet you're feeling it too.

If you can help in any way, now is the time. All of us coming together, doing what we can, will ensure families who need help get a little comfort this holiday season.

What can you do to help? Drop off food donations starting next week, or stretch your dollar even further and make a monetary gift. We'll use the funds to buy perishable items like milk, butter, eggs and rolls, as well as leverage our partnerships to get better prices on the things we need the most.

Together, we'll ensure more than 25,000 of our neighbors in Dane County have a happy Thanksgiving. 
With gratitude,
Letesha Nelson 
CEO & Executive Director 
P.S. Monetary gifts beyond what we need for Thanksgiving will go toward funding all the great work happening at Goodman year-round.
Photos by Laura Zastrow Photography
THANKSGIVING

Add a Few Items to Your Next Shopping Trip
Food donations coming from thousands within our community make our Thanksgiving Basket Drive possible. Without your donations, we can't fill 4,000 baskets with everything needed to make a holiday meal at home.

Food donations can be dropped off starting next week (the sooner, the better). Bring your donation to our gym during these times:

  • Monday - Tuesday, Nov. 14-15, 10am-3pm
  • Wednesday - Friday, Nov. 16-18, 10am-7pm
  • Saturday - Sunday, Nov. 19-20, 9am-5pm 


Thank you for helping provide Thanksgiving groceries to thousands in Dane County!

Photo by Laura Zastrow Photography 
Don't Miss a Single Update
As Thanksgiving draws near, we'll be sharing a bunch of updates about how we're doing and what we need to ensure more than 4,000 Dane County families receive everything they need to make a traditional Thanksgiving meal at home. If you don't want to miss a thing, make sure you're following us on Instagram, and on Facebook, add the Goodman page to your favorites.

  1. Click the starred Favorites button.
  2. Choose Favorites at the top of the list. 
  3. Click Update.

Thank you for your support! Together, we'll bring a little comfort to Dane County families this holiday season.
AT GOODMAN

Register for Winter Sports Camps & Clinics
Our Fit Youth Initiative (FYI) winter sports camps and skills clinics are open for registration! These camps and clinics are a great way for your child to develop new skills, build on existing skills and learn to be part of a team.

Winter Skills Clinics
  • Nov. 28-Dec. 16
  • Basketball and volleyball
  • 4th-8th grades

Winter Sports Camps
  • Jan. 9-Feb. 17
  • Basketball, soccer, volleyball and baseball
  • Grades K-5th (volleyball is 4th-8th)

Clinics and camps are $60 each, and scholarships are available. Learn more and register your child here.
New Issue of Eastside News
The November/December issue of Eastside News has hit the stands, and our cover story is one worth checking out, especially if you (like many adults) aren’t so sure what to think about middle school youth.

In this issue, our CEO Letesha Nelson shares the stories of three youth in our Lussier LOFT middle school program who are defying what first comes to mind when you think of middle school and middle school teens.

Read more about Malyki, Houja and Louie – and how our LOFT program is helping middle school youth grow into the kind and generous people they are – here.
WORK AT GCC

All We're Missing is You
The Goodman Center has some of the best benefits in town – no joke. In addition to an incredible health care plan (better than what some much bigger businesses in town offer, we've been told by our staff) and generous retirement matching, Goodman also offers more than 5 weeks of paid time off in your first year, free childcare for kids in preschool and attending Lowell or Emerson elementary schools, and more.

Check out our current open positions and apply today:
  • Middle School Enrichment Coordinator
  • Elementary Programs Co-Teacher
  • Community Experience Administrator (Front Desk Reception)
  • Food Resources Program Cook (Part Time)
  • Bartender
  • Program Van Driver
  • 4K Lead Teacher
  • Preschool Co-Teacher 

PLANNING

Read This if You're 70+ and Have an IRA
Did you know that giving from your IRA is a smart and tax-savvy way to give back to a nonprofit organization? Giving from your IRA can save you money and make a huge difference for the Goodman Community Center this year.

You may be required to take funds out of your IRA this year and those funds will be taxable. However, if you choose to give back to the Goodman Center, your donation will count toward your required minimum distribution (RMD) and be considered a tax-free gift!

Visit our website to learn more, or reach out to Dani Luckett, Goodman Chief Development Officer, at dani@goodmancenter.org or 608-204-8059.
EVENTS

Hy-Vee Food Drives
Donate to our Thanksgiving Basket Drive while you shop! Purchase items from our grocery list during your regular shopping and leave them in a marked cart near the entrance. Hy-Vee will deliver them to us in time for Thanksgiving.

When:
  • Saturday, November 12, 10am - 2pm
  • Sunday, November 13, 10am - 2pm
Where:
  • Hy-Vee East Washington, 3801 E. Washington Ave., Madison

Photo by ilana natasha photography 
Two Chances to Stuff the Kohl Center
Heading to this weekend's UW men's hockey game or women's basketball game? Don't forget a food donation for our Thanksgiving Basket Drive!

Our friends at UW Athletics are planning to stuff the Kohl Center Saturday and Sunday. Bring canned goods/non-perishable foods and monetary donations when you come to cheer on the Badgers. Cash, online donations, PayPal and food donations accepted at the gates.

Go, Badgers!
Glass Nickel Pizza Fundraiser
Add a donation to the Goodman Community Center's Thanksgiving Basket Drive when you order from Glass Nickel's east-side location. Order online or by phone. Gifts will be matched by Glass Nickel up to $1,000.

When: Nov. 14-17
Where: Glass Nickel Pizza East, 2916 Atwood Ave., Madison
Eat Well & Support Our Thanksgiving Basket Drive
Once again, our friends at Food Fight are stepping up to help us ensure thousands of families have everything they need to make a Thanksgiving meal at home.

Now until Nov. 20, you can make a donation to our Thanksgiving Basket Drive when you dine in or order online from Monty's, Bar Corallini and Tex Tubb's.

Now that's a pretty good excuse to let someone else do the cooking!

Photo courtesy of Bar Corallini
Find even more events supporting our Thanksgiving Basket Drive here!
FOOD PROGRAMS

Fritz Food Pantry
Our food pantry is open three days a week to anyone who needs it.

Hours:  
  • Tuesday 9:30am – noon, Drive-thru 1-2pm 
  • Wednesday 6pm – 8pm  
  • Thursday 12:30pm – 3pm

Interested in helping our food pantry serve our community? Check out our list of most-needed items.

Holiday Hours:
The Fritz Food Pantry will be closed the week of Nov. 21 so our staff can support our Thanksgiving Basket Drive and get some much-needed rest over the Thanksgiving holiday.

Need help finding an open food pantry near you? Call 211 for assistance.

Questions? Contact Francesca at francesca@goodmancenter.org or 608-204-8049.
“I am a working mom of 3. With bills and the cost to run a household, me and my children depend on food pantries. This program allows me to provide a nice Thanksgiving meal for my family. Thank all so much for your kindness and donations.” 
– Past Thanksgiving Basket recipient 

Many people doing small acts of kindness add up to making a huge difference. If you're able to make a gift this year, thank you so much. And if it's not in the cards for you this year, that's ok too. Thank you for whatever support you can offer. We're stronger together than we are apart ❤️ 
P.S. We have a new and improved online donation system that's incredibly secure, but we are still working out a few functionality kinks. If you make a gift and notice something amiss, please let us know by emailing amie@goodmancenter.org. Thank you!
GOODMAN COMMUNITY CENTER
214 Waubesa Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53704
Read the Eastside News, our bimonthy, uber-local newspaper.