KUDOS: How donors and families were joined to make holidays happy


Sandra Large, owner of CrossFit in Belgium, with gifts that were donated for the Ozaukee Family Services holiday gift program by members of her gym.

To Ozaukee Press:

Ozaukee Family Services has coordinated holiday gift giving between donors and clients for several years. We are fortunate to have local donors who offer to help, and we have a direct connection to families in need right here in our community.

Every holiday the staff at Ozaukee Family Services is overwhelmed by the generosity of the community. Donors not only provide toys and games but much-needed items such as winter boots,  coats, hats, mittens, bedding, strollers, clothing, tools, snow shovels and gas and grocery gift cards. This year we matched donors with 42 families, all of which live Ozaukee County and participate in programs provided by OFS. Recipients of the gifts were extremely grateful. Their responses included:

“As our family continues to move through this challenging time, your support and kindness has been incredible. I couldn’t have done the holidays without you.”

“Thank you so much for making this season a bit less stressful.”

“OFS has provided us a wonderful community where we feel welcomed and not alone in our struggles. Thank you for everything and for making the holidays special.”

Ozaukee Family Services would like to thank the donors who providing holiday gifts for our clients.

The holiday donations are greatly appreciated ,but it’s not too late to help a local family. OFS clients can use items like gift cards (to grocery stores, gas stations or stores such as Walmart, Target, Meijer), diapers,and shared-ride taxi vouchers throughout the year. In addition, monetary donations allows OFS to meet the growing demand for its services, especially mental health programs. Contact Ozaukee Family Services at 262-376-7774 to donate or volunteer.

OFS helps individuals and families improve their mental, emotional and social health through a wide variety of programs—counseling and other behavioral health services, family education and support, prevention education programs and services to help local seniors remain living independently.

All services are free or on a sliding fee scale; no one is ever turned away due to the inability to pay. OFS assists approximately 6,000 people every year. For more information, visit OzaukeeFamilyServices.org.

Lisa Holtebeck

Executive director

Ozaukee Family Services

Cedarburg

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Ozaukee Press

Wisconsin’s largest paid circulation community weekly newspaper. Serving Port Washington, Saukville, Grafton, Fredonia, Belgium, as well as Ozaukee County government. Locally owned and printed in Port Washington, Wisconsin.

125 E. Main St.
Port Washington, WI 53074
(262) 284-3494
 

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