Rental Assistance Program
New Rental Assistance Program for Door County Residents Struggling Financially During Health Crisis
 
To help keep struggling Door County residents from being evicted from their homes during the pandemic and resulting recession, the Door County Community Foundation and the United Way of Door County have partnered with Lakeshore CAP to offer an expanded Rental Assistance Program. Support for this program is coming from the  Door County Emergency Response Fund .
 
You might be eligible for assistance if all the following criteria apply to you:
  • Lease an apartment, duplex, or single-family home in Door County as your sole residence
  • Experienced a substantial reduction in your income due to the COVID-19 health crisis and resulting economic recession
  • Virtually exhausted your savings and are now unable to meet your financial obligations

More information about the program and application materials are available online at  www.RentReliefDoorCounty.org .
 
If you do not have a printer at home or internet access, you can pick up an application at Lakeshore CAP at 131 S. 3rd Avenue in Sturgeon Bay on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.
 
If you are unable to visit Lakeshore CAP in Sturgeon Bay, you may request that an application be mailed to you. Call Lakeshore CAP at (920) 682-3737 and leave a message with your name, phone number, and mailing address. An application will be mailed to you shortly thereafter.
 
"This new rental assistance program is meant to help those who are in danger of being evicted," says Bret Bicoy, President & CEO of the Community Foundation. "Unfortunately, our resources are limited so we're not going to be able to help everyone who's having a tough time. But we promise to spend every penny in the Emergency Response Fund in the months ahead trying to make things just a little bit easier for our neighbors who are struggling during this crisis."
 
Since resources in the Door County Emergency Response Fund are limited, it is anticipated that the income and savings criteria used to determine eligibility could be loosened as it becomes clearer as to how many people will need assistance. The Emergency Response Fund does not receive any money from government. It is entirely funded by the generosity of the year 'round and seasonal residents of Door County.
 
"The Door County Emergency Response Fund is a wonderful example of friends and neighbors uniting together to help those in a time of need," says Amy Kohnle, Executive Director of United Way of Door County. "We are deeply thankful for our community's generosity."
 
To donate to this important relief effort, join us by  making an online gift today  or mail your contribution to:

Door County Emergency Response Fund
Door County Community Foundation
222 N. 3rd Avenue
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
 
We will get through this if we hold together as a community!
Door County Food Pantry Coalition
New Food Pantry Coalition Launched to Fill the Gap Left
by End of the Community
Meals Program
 
The  Door County Meals Cooperative  announced today that the final night of the free community dinner program will be Friday, May 29. To ensure that struggling people still have access to healthy food, 9 food pantries in Door County, along with the Door County Community Foundation and United Way of Door County, have created the new Door County Food Pantry Coalition. You can learn more at  www.FeedDoorCounty.org .
 
Under the leadership of the Boys and Girls Club of Door County, the Door County YMCA, the Door County Fire Chiefs Association, the Door County Medical Center, United Way of Door County, the Door County Community Foundation, and countless other partners, the Door County Meals Cooperative began distributing free dinners in mid-March to anyone in the community who needed a little help during the Safer-at-Home order. Very quickly the program grew to providing about 750 free dinners every day to people of all ages. The dinners were distributed at five pick-up sites in Door County and 1 in Kewaunee County. All dinners are being produced in the kitchen of the Boys and Girls Club.
 
With the end of the school year, the Boys and Girls Club kitchen must switch over their facility to providing almost 800 meals a day for the YMCA children's summer lunch program. As a result, the free community dinners need to come to an end.

To ensure that struggling people aren't left behind, the food pantries of the Washington Island Community Health Program, Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church, Sister Bay First Baptist Church, Door of Life, Stella Maris Catholic Church, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Feed and Clothe My People, Lakeshore CAP, and Holy Name Catholic Church, have joined with the Door County Community Foundation and United Way of Door County to create the Door County Food Pantry Coalition. It's Door County's coordinated, sustainable response to providing food and other supplies to people who are struggling during the global pandemic and economic recession.
 
Contributions to the Meals Cooperative that have not already been budgeted or spent will be transferred to the Door County Food Pantry Coalition so that those dollars can continue to feed people of all ages who continue to struggle during the current health crisis.
 
It should be noted that the Door County Food Pantry Coalition is NOT paid for by the government. The Food Pantry Coalition is able to help because of the generous donations of the year 'round and seasonal residents of Door County. As a result, there is no qualification process to access the partnering food pantries during this health crisis. If someone is having a hard time making ends meet, the members of the Food Pantry Coalition want to extend a helping hand.
 
All the member food pantries have also committed to several safety precautions to avoid the spread of the coronavirus. Everyone offers "contactless" pick-up. They also ask that clients practice social distancing and wear a mask when visiting a pantry. Further, all pantries have agreed to quarantine donated food items for at least 72 hours before distributing them to the public.
 
While everyone is working together through the Coalition, each food pantry operates in a different way. Some pantries are only able to provide non-perishable items, while others can offer refrigerated and frozen foods. A few pantries also make toiletries and other household supplies available. In some cases, the pantries allow clients to come into their facility to pick out what they need, while others prepack food based on family size and then bring it outside to the client.
 
The community is invited to visit  www.FeedDoorCounty.org  to look through the list of the pantries below to understand what each one offers and how they operate. Then people can decide which one is best suited to help them during their time of need.
 
The Food Pantry Coalition welcomes donations of all kinds but asks the community to first consider making a monetary contribution. Often the pantries can purchase food at a cost far below what a donor would pay for the same item at the grocery store. Monetary gifts also allow the pantries to buy refrigerated and frozen food items that are not easily donated.
 
Please go to  www.FeedDoorCounty.org  to make a donation online today, or mail your gift to:
 
Door County Food Pantry Coalition
Door County Community Foundation
222 N. 3rd Avenue
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
 
All monetary contributions will be shared by the food pantries based on where the need is greatest in Door County at any given time. For those that still would like to donate food items, please contact the food pantry closest to them.
 
Any money not needed by the food pantries will be transferred to the Door County Emergency Response Fund to provide other relief and assistance to Door County residents struggling during this crisis.
 
Need help, don't know where to turn?
Call United Way’s 2-1-1 helpline 24/7 with questions or concerns about COVID-19.

  • Text COVID19 to 211211


  • Talk with a specialist: Call 2-1-1.
If you or someone you know needs help paying for their prescription drugs, please download the Familywize prescription discount card*.  Whether you're insured or uninsured, you can use FamilyWize to save on your prescriptions. You can even share it with your friends, family, and co-workers.  (*Does not replace your regular insurance but can offer discounts on prescriptions)

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We have updated our website to include current information on resources and services available during this time.


Please use the above link to go directly to the COVID 19 page. This resource is organized by category. The links take you to spreadsheets that we will continue to update.
United Way of Door County | www.unitedwaydc.com