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Winter is almost officially here and the holidays are upon us! The time between Thanksgiving and the new year goes by fast and we have a lot of information to share with you about happenings during this time.

The new year will bring some changes at Neighborhood Connection. Please see the article below about staffing updates for the details about this.



We wish you a very peaceful holiday season and a new year filled with possibilities!

Important Dates

Waunakee Neighborhood Connection will be closed Friday, December 16^th for our Holiday Wishes gift drop-off and on December 23-January 9 for the winter break. There will be no shopping on these dates. If you have an emergency need, please call us at (608)849-5740 or send an email to wncteam@waunakeenc.org as we will check messages on these daily except for Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Shopping Hours:

• Mondays, Tuesday, Thursdays | 9:30 AM-12:00 PM
• Wednesdays | 9:30 AM-12:00 PM and 4:00-7:00 PM
• Fridays | 9:30 AM-4:00 PM

School Closures:

• December 22 to January 2 – Waunakee schools closed
• January 16 – Waunakee schools and Waunakee Neighborhood Connection closed for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

December and January Specials in the Corner Store

The December specials in the Corner Store will be new toys and Winter/Christmas decorations. For the toys, we ask that you limit your selection to one toy per registered child in the household. For holiday décor, the limit is one set per household per month.

In January, we will have blankets and quilts available as well as craft supplies. We ask that you take only one blanket per household. 

Holiday Programs

Holiday Wishlist Gift Pick-up | Saturday, December 17^th

Waunakee Village Center | 333 S Madison Street, Waunakee

• All clients who were accepted for the Holiday Wishes program have been notified and will receive a reminder about their assigned pick-up time.

Holiday meal gift cards or grocery delivery

• Those who requested holiday meal gift cards will receive it in the mail sometime after December 15th. Those who requested a grocery delivery will receive that on Saturday, December 17th between 10:00 AM and noon.

If you have questions about either of our holiday programs, please contact us. 

Upcoming Staff Changes at Waunakee Neighborhood Connection

Lisa Humenik, our executive director, has shared with our board of directors the news that she has accepted a new position as director of operations for the United Way of Wisconsin (UWWi), the association that represents and supports all the local and independent United Ways in the state. She expressed that it was an incredibly difficult decision for her to make given all that we’ve accomplished and all that is going on here at Neighborhood Connection, but ultimately this gets her back to the type of organizational capacity-building and government grant work at the state level that she so enjoyed when she lived and worked in Arizona.

Lisa has planned a transition schedule that will go through the end of the year. She will start her new position full-time on December 7th, and during December she’ll put in 20 hours per week with Neighborhood Connection on evenings, weekends, and a few weekdays to get us through all the holiday programs and year-end activities. Lisa also plans to become a volunteer at Neighborhood Connection, so she will still be around!

Coincidentally, Helyn Luisi-Mills, our manager of client services, has also announced her intent to transition away from her role at Neighborhood Connection in the near future. She plans to stay with us through the executive director transition. Helyn shared, “it has been an amazing journey to work and share life with so many of you, it is time that I take a different direction. I have truly enjoyed working with volunteers and getting one-on-one time with clients. I have learned so much about the richness of the Waunakee community and its growing diversity. I sincerely thank you for your enthusiasm and sharing spirit.”

Lisa and the board will keep you updated about the transition plan as things move forward. In the meantime, please reach out to either Lisa or Helyn if you have any immediate questions or concerns.

Baptism Clothing Available

We have received a few beautiful baptism outfits. They range in size from 12 mo. to 2T or a smaller 3T. They need mild mending, and the dress can be lengthened or shortened. Outfits available are a dress with a cap, two jumpsuits with caps, and an over-the-clothes bib and handkerchief. Please contact Helyn at (608)849-5740 or email if you would like to request one of these beautiful items.

Waunakee Community Cares Coalition

The Waunakee Community Cares Coalition, which works in our community to prevent youth drug and alcohol use, has some exciting and important events happening in the upcoming weeks. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend.

Wednesday, November 30th| 1:00 PM and 5:45 PM

Waunakee Library

Public screening of the movie, "Wisdom of Trauma," followed by a community conversation led by the Psychotherapy Center of Waunakee.

Wednesday, December 7th | 4:00 - 6:00 PM

Heritage Elementary School

A community visioning session to learn more about the challenges facing our youth and how we can work together to create a healthy and resilient Waunakee.

Additional FREE COVID Home Tests

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is offering Wisconsinites the ability to order additional free at-home rapid COVID-19 tests and have them delivered directly to their house each month, starting in November. Each order contains a package of five rapid antigen COVID-19 tests. This is open to all Wisconsin households, meaning that those who have already placed an order are now eligible to order again. 

Also, The FDA has extended the expiration dates for many COVID-19 self-tests, including the tests delivered through the Say Yes! COVID Test program. Do not be concerned if the expiration date on self-tests received through this program appear to have passed. These tests are still reliable and good to use for up to an additional 6 months. Use the tool on the iHealth website to search for test kit extended expiration dates. Check expiration dates for all self-test brands at https://bit.ly/COVIDtestexpirationdates. 

It's Time for Flu Shots and COVID Booster Vaccines

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is urging Wisconsinites to get an updated COVID-19 booster vaccination and their annual flu shot ahead of the upcoming holiday season. People can safely get their COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines, including flu, at the same time. Everyone ages 5 and older is now eligible for an updated COVID-19 booster. 

People are encouraged to check with their primary care provider, local or Tribal health department or clinics, or visit vaccines.gov to find information about vaccination sites and the ages served. 

Free Legal Aid Clinic

Thursday, December 8 | 4:00-6:30 PM

Neighborhood House Community Center

29 S Mills Street, Madison

Sponsored by Neighborhood House and the Wisconsin State Bar Association, the goal of the clinic is to offer free legal advice and consultation for low-income individuals from attorneys practicing in family law, landlord/tenant issues and more. To make an appointment, contact Neighborhood House via email or at (608)255-5337. There will be limited walk-in availability, so appointments are highly recommended. 

Community Events

Light the Night | Downtown Waunakee

Friday, December 2 | 6:30-8:00 PM

The light parade and Santa will come down Main Street at 6:30 PM. Rotary Lights will be open as will downtown shops.

Rotary Lights | Village Park

Nightly from 5:00-10:00 PM through December 31

Drive through Village Park at 410 E Main Street to see the    holiday light display throughout the park.