Your Top 5 to THRIVE

November 2023

#1 Mobile Community Closet is Ready to Hit the Road

After months of planning, we are ready to launch our Mobile Community Closet!

Our first venture is at Edgar Schools on Thursday, Nov. 16.

This project would not be possible without Impact 100 Greater Wausau. This amazing group of women chose the Mobile Community Closet as their 2023, $100,000 grant recipient.

We would also like to thank Brad Bedessem at Climb Design for his talented work in designing the truck wrap as well as the Community Closet logo.

About 16,000 households in Marathon County are living below the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) threshold, meaning they earn less than the cost of living, especially as the cost of basic needs continues to increase.

These are your friends, neighbors, and anyone you know living paycheck to paycheck and one crisis away from financial ruin.

Our Mobile Community Closet will provide free clothing to families and individuals, eliminate barriers, and provide access to clothing where these families already spend their time.

Locations could include schools, community events, other non-profit organizations, etc.

Eliminating this financial burden from struggling households means more families and individuals can THRIVE.

#2 Retire United Donates Life-Saving Devices to Area Non-Profits

Our Retire United members have been busy recently making the rounds to three non-profits and presenting them with automated external defibrillators (AEDs).

On Monday, Oct. 23 the team visited the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) to present a Zoll brand AED. If used, this specific model can transfer patient information from the AED pads to the equipment first responders use, providing them with crucial information the moment the AED was applied.

This is exactly why this model was chosen.

Wausau Deputy Fire Chief Jeremy Kopp joined the presentation and said the Zoll model is the best for uniformity among EMS and first responders. If more people have access to AEDs and know how to use them, more lives can be saved.

The next day, the group visited Gigi’s Playhouse with an AED as well as the Community Partners Campus (CPC).

Wausau Fire Department EMS Division Chief Jared Thompson was present at both locations. He made sure the AEDs were charged up and ready to be used if needed. Thompson will revisit the non-profits for AED training.

#3 Making a Difference One Leaf at a Time

This year we had 45 groups of volunteers rake 105 yards as part of Make a Difference Day, Saturday Oct. 28!

From corporations to families and Scouts, the community rallied together to help rake leaves for those who are not able to. Some raking took place in the week leading up to the big day on Saturday.

For elderly or disabled homeowners, seasonal lawn care like leaf removal presents a significant challenge, as the cost of hiring out these services can be out of reach. We work to help relieve that worry by coordinating volunteers to rake these yards, allowing people to care for and remain in their homes without taking on an additional household expense.

Thank you to our Make a Difference Day sponsors UMR and Ruder Ware!

#4 Turkey Trot - Gather Your Friends & Family for this Holiday Tradition

Are you ready for the Turkey Trot?

The 14th annual run/walk takes place Thanksgiving morning, Thursday Nov. 23 and starts and ends at the 400 Block downtown Wausau.

All registration fees are donated to United Way's Marathon County Hunger Coalition. Funds raised from this event will help feed those in need during the holiday season and throughout the year.

Participation is limited, with t-shirts sizes being guaranteed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Registration will officially sell out at 2,000 runners.

Register before the current $30 fee increases to $35 on November16.

See you at the 400 Block!

#5 Campaign Update

Our Resource Development team has been busy connecting with companies that have started their United Way campaign.

One of the places we visited was Marathon Cheese Corporation. Our Executive Director Jeff Sargent was unrecognizable in safety gear as he toured the cheese packaging company.

On that day, he arrived at 4am to talk to employees about our bold goal and how they can have a direct impact on the community.

We’ve seen some creative workplace campaigns too – some include Greenheck Group's "United We Spike" co-ed volleyball tournament, a brat fry and a Halloween Trunk-or-Treat. We even saw Festival Foods grocery stores selling United Way t-shirts to store guests with a portion of the sales going to their campaign.

Check out where our Director of Resource Development, Amanda Flannery, has been.

• Marathon Cheese Corporation
• Crystal Finishing
• Domtar
• Mosinee School District
• Aspirus
• Greenheck
• Festival Foods
• Van Ert Electric

Upcoming Events

November 14 - Retire United Charitable Gifting Strategies 

November 23 - 14th Annual Turkey Trot

November 28 - Giving Tuesday

November 30 - Women United Grant Applications Due