The first November Family

We delivered to a famiy with a 6 & 4 year old sisters and a 10 year old brother.  They needed beds, sheets and comforters for the children.  The girls share this room, and the excitement as we put the beds together, and they saw their matching comforters was so much fun!  The 10 year old brother was so excited when we set his bed up in the other room, to find that we did not pull out a pink and purple comforter for him! 
They  were the  sweetest family, the children were all so excited, and parents so
grateful.

Second November Family

A single mom and her 10 year old daughter.  They live in Nashotah.  I stopped the caseworker from sharing the story because I knew immediately it would haunt me.  We delivered today, and wanted to make this little girls bedroom very special. In a few days after sending out the newsletter,  5 different donors dropped off what she had asked for.  What is even more amazing is it all went together! First a beautiful bed quilt, with a matching rug and lamp in pale greens and pink..,a bookcase and chair, beanie baby stuffed animals, art supplies and books.   This  little girl said her room looked like a magazine photgraph!  The room  that was empty when we arrived is now filled with love, and trust me this little 10 year old deserves it!   The living room furniture was beautiful, and she was so grateful for a dresser.  She just kept saying how blessed they were, and that she didn't know there were people like YOU in this world...

Drive for the Hebron Homeless Shelter

3 stores....40 volunteers...each sharing just 2 hours of time!  Passing out the Hebron House's wish list and letting the Lake Country community know there was a need. As always they stepped forward to help!  Their generosity shined like the sun that fall day as customer after customer shared bags of soups, spaghetti, soap and shampoo.  When the day was done, 7 SUV's full of donations and $1,000.00 in cash donations were collected. 2 hours...such a small commitment individually...but together...over 80 hours of volunteerism! Together we can make a difference....we DID make a difference!   A special thanks to two groups that helped that day as well, Divine Redeemer and the Arrowhead Key Club.

From Cathy~ The Advocate for the Homeless at Hebron House,

I cannot tell you how touched the guests and staff are at the Hebron House! This kind of community support and generosity truly motivates us to keep going!!! So many times the homeless population is ignored or looked down upon because of their situation, but we know that many times their circumstances are out of their control. The caring that was demonstrated by the Volunteers of Lake Country can sincerely turn their life around because they know people are there to support them in their toughest times. THANKS so much!!!!!!!!

 The faces of Volunteers of Lake Country!

Octobers Client Mom & 7 month old son

There were 4 deliveries in October...two spilling into November!   We delivered this beautiful  bedroom set to a single mom. She could not believe strangers would give this furniture and bedding to her.  She was overwhelmed with tears... 25 years old, and she has never had a bed before!  There were alot of tears this month....

October Delivery to Single mom of 18 month old boy.

Toys, a pack &  play, books, diapers, clothing, and a winter coat....the items on the wish list of a single mom with a 18 month old were delivered to the caseworker, and she  shared them with the family. Little boys toys and clothing poured in this month.  A note from the caseworker after she dropped the items off: 

  "Thanks so much for everything.  I took it over yesterday afternoon and Catherine was extremely grateful for the items.  She was very excited about that awesome winter jacket and tried it on her son immediately.  Her son also could not tear himself away from that bag of toys and books.  He was squealing, with excitement!  VLC  always manages to come up with just what’s needed!   Thanks again!

Octobers Delivery to a mom with a 3 year old son!

This single mom is a full time student, excited about having a career that will be able to support she and her 3 year old son.  She also has a job and is working hard to make a good life for them both.  Her wish list included a twin bed, bedding, dresser, clothes, a winter coat and educational playthings....every wish was granted thanks to your generosity once more!  This beautiful bedroom set was shared, along with the bedding.  So many playthings she is putting many away for Santa to deliver!  Thank you once more. 

October Collection for 3 boys in 3 different families....Thank You!

Thank you to all of the strangers, who live in the LC community for taking the time to read the VLC Newsletter each month and even more, for acting on the needs shared in it.   Donations poured in this month for 3 little boys (3 years, 18 month, 7 months)....it was Christmas on my porch in October!  Thank you for your kindness in cleaning the educational toys your children have outgrown....boxing them and dropping them off.  For washing the bedding and children's clothing needed for this month's clients....bagging them and labeling which sizes...for which client.   Thank you for  watching  store sales and purchasing new things to share...how special!   Thank you for only dropping off what is requested that month.  The moms, and the boys were so excited, and so grateful...

Octobers Client: A mom and her 12 year old daughter

There is no way that words can possibly convey the story of this very special delivery. We delivered to a single mom with a 12 year old daughter. She had one knee replaced the end of June....the other a few weeks ago. How she got up and down from her mattress on the floor, I will never understand. The only other furniture in the efficiency apartment were 2 folding camp chairs, a small table and TV. We brought in the kitchen table and chairs first, so mom could sit down. She watched as we carried a queen bed past her along with 2 new pillows, new sheets, a featherbed and comforter. She sat and cried...Then came the love seat. She could not stop crying...We worked for 1/2 an hour pushing, pulling and pounding to get the loveseat through the doorway! Below is the photo of her apartment that the 2 of them share..kitchen, and 1 room...their living room and bedroom...7' x 9'...the queen bed that they share....and are  so grateful for.  Thank you for sharing such beautiful things for a beautiful mom and her daughter!

  

September's Project- Book Mark Making Workshop

We popped open a Rubbermaid  filled with crayons and the comforting smell of childhood encompassed us all!  AHS Key Club volunteers, a Middle School Volunteer, and a few grownups alike all made a comment about that smell!   We were suddenly all back in time to 'play mode'!   VLC  hosted a Bookmark  Making Project at the Waukesha Library on Saturday September 25th.  It was a kick off to the Waukesha Reads Program and an opportunity to bring awareness to their community project...collecting children's books in Waukesha businesses for the VLC Children's Free Library!   VLC established this library, and we have been getting over 1,000 books into the homes of children in need each month for over 1 year!  Studies have shown books in the home creates better readers, more  successful students and citizens!  Almost every single child who walked through the doors of the library that morning stopped and made a bookmark for themselves and one to share at the VLC library!  Stickers, rubber stamps, markers, weaving, watercolor paints, yarn, ribbon, and of course crayons entertained us for two hours...we were all kids helping kids!  Thank you to the volunteers for their help and to donors for dropping off art supplies for us to use.  In case you missed it there  was an article in several of the area newspapers about the project and library at;   http://www.waukeshanow.com/news/130660408.html

VLC's September Clients

The Oconomowoc Family who needed your help; requests were so specific....but that did not stop VLC from coming through!  The father has been battling  Stage 4 Cancer the past year and will be a little more comfortable because you read the story and decided you could help!  An absolutely beautiful navy leather recliner, an air purifier, and a queen bed were shared, and our friends at Hearts for Families stepped forward to help the children with winter gear, and their utility bills between now and the end of 2011.


A Share Meant to be: A call from a donor with a couch and chair to share, but VLC had no room in the locker.  The same afternoon, a caseworker called with 2 little boys, and no living room furniture!  A volunteer with a trailer picked then up and delivered directly!
The Oconomowoc Family who needed your help; requests so specific....but that did not stop VLC from coming through!  The father has been battling  Stage 4 Cancer the past year and will be a little more comfortable because you read the story and decided you could help!  An absolutely beautiful navy leather recliner, an air purifier, and a queen bed were shared, and our friends at Hearts for Families stepped forward to help the children with winter gear, and their utility bills thru 2011. 
A Caseworker with a client in a very small apartment and nothing  in the living room picked up a loveseat and side tables at the VLC locker to share with the family, and delivered them herself!

VLC runs Food Drives for the Hartland, Pewaukee and Oconomowoc Food Pantries

VLC was contacted by the Hartland, Oconomowoc and Pewaukee Food Pantries asking if we could do an emergency food drive for them.  Shelves were empty, or near empty and all were struggling to keep up with the growing need in our community.    The Hartland and Oconomowoc Piggly Wiggly and the Pewaukee  Wal-Mart hosted us and many VLC volunteers who had never helped before  shared 2 hours of their time on Saturday August 27th, passing out fliers to customers.  They said they had a great time.  The energy at the collection sites was amazing!   Customers sharing huge bags of groceries....and the vans filling  fast!  Mountains of food was shared and shelves were restocked.   Thank you for making a difference.   Enjoy some of the faces of
 VLC!

August Client- Mom, Dad and 2 sons (5 and 2 years old)

There was not 1 piece of furniture in the apartment when we arrived except a blow up mattress on the floor in the living room...it was the families bed AND their couch.  Mom had a family emergency and was not home.  Dad rolled up his sleeves and unloaded the trailer, the cargo van and then the SUV.  A bunk bed and dresser for the boys room, a bed for mom and dad, a couch, love seat and tables for the living room, a kitchen set, sheets, comforters, towels, clothing, toys and books.  All beautiful furniture and clothing that you donated to be shared with this family.  Dad told the case worker that he could not wait for his wife to return...to see that they now had a 'home'.  He couldn't say thank you enough that all of the donors...the apartment was beautiful!

August Client - Mom, Dad, 3 Daughters (14, 13 & 9)

In August we made 2 of our biggest deliveries.  This family (mom, dad and 3 daughters) received 2 beautiful couches, living room table, lamp, beds and a beautiful bedroom set along twin beds and comforters. The bedroom set was for the 15 year old daughter....her bedroom was in the basement.  It was a basement... cinderblock walls,  a concrete floor, and a blanket hanging to partition off the laundry area.  But when we brought down the white sleigh bed, dresser, nightstand, desk, chair and new comfortor....it transformed it into a beautiful room this straight A student was grateful for!

Delafield Family- One of VLC's August Clients.

One of our August Clients was a family in Delafield .  Two daughters had moved home to help their mom.  None have a car, and they had a wish list of some unusual items that had stopped working.  A lawn mower and microwave were both shared along with 2 bikes....one for one daugher to get to work and back....the other for the other daughter to run errands and grocery shop.  They were very grateful for your gifts!

July's Clients daughter receives a surprise in August!

After we delivered to July's Client a VLC donor contacted us with an amazing kitchen to share.  We delivered this kitchen to the daughter, and from the minute we walked in and put it down....to the minute we left the 4 year old never stopped playing with it!  We had to coax her away so we could take the photo!  This donor also shared a grocery store and cart as well, and a different caseworker shared it with another client!  Thank you to the donors for this very  special share... 

July's Project- Collection of School Supplies for Children in Need

Saturday July 3oth, 50 VLC Volunteers donated more than 110 hours of their time and staffed the Pewaukee Wal-Mart, Hartland Walgreens and the Waukesha Sam's Club. A special thanks goes out to the AHS Key Club, who handled the Walgreens, and to Klements Sausage who shared 3 of 'the boys' with us for the day! School buses with "Fill the Bus" banners were at each store, the Klement's/Brewer Sausage's greeting customers, along with volunteers passing out lists of most needed items. Mountains of school supplies were collected and loaded into the buses, along with $1,000.00 in cash donations, and VLC expediting $1,500.00 in Community Grants. A huge THANKS to all of VLC volunteers who helped on Saturday, volunteers who shared 2 hours of time and helped to make a difference in the lives of 2,000 children in our community whose families are struggling right now.

Delivery to June's Client in July!

A mom with a 3 month old baby boy, and a 4 year old daughter was moving from a shelter to an apartment. She was suppose to move the end of June, but the availability of the apt. was delayed and we didn't deliver to our June Client until July! A very small apartment....but I suspect it felt like a mansion after living in a shelter! Your donations poured in for this family. Beautiful baby clothes (3 months-12 months!), diapers, a toy chest filled with toys, a swing, exersaucer, a hamper filled with cleaning supplies, shower curtain, bath mat and towels, sheets and comforters (mom, daughter and baby all sharing a bedroom!). We squeezed a loveseat, chair, 2 side tables and lamps into the living room. She was so excited and proud of her new place! On the way out we shared a gift basket of goodies from Kids who Can, along with a $100.00 GC from Hearts for Families.

A Unexpected Delivery....And A Girls Dream Come True!

VLC was contacted by Human Services about 11 year old Kassondra who was removed from her mother care, and placed permanently with her father. Dad was so excited, but needed a bed and dresser for her, which we shared. At 36 he had had a major heart attack...and a heart transplant ended up saving his life. He is back to work full time, and working to pay off a mountain of medical bills. He had hopes of pinching pennies and trying to fulfill his daughters dreams of a summer horse camp...she has had a tough year, for an 11 year old! After meeting this wonderful family at the delivery, VLC contacted an area horse camp, shared the families story, and they accepted Kassondra at no cost! The kindness of strangers.....

Family Asks for 2 Bikes so Daughter can attend Salvation Army Summer Camp

A dad who can no longer work due to health problems, a mom who is working, a 13 year old daughter who is signed up for summer school and had an opportunity to attend a Salvation Army Summer Camp....however they do not have a car. The caseworker emailed to ask if there was anyway VLC could help? We made a contact to a special donor and 2 womens bikes were delivered that day! Mom is riding the daughter to her summer school session and to summer camp! Another example of the generosity of the people in Lake Country! Thanks for making this 13 year old very happy!

Picnic Table Donated to Sienna House, a Homeless Shelter in Waukesha

Hebron Homeless Shelter had a picnic table on their 'wish list'. A place where families staying at their shelter at Sienna would be able to sit outside to visit and play. A big thanks to a team of volunteers from GE, who saw the request in the VLC July Newsletter, and purchased and built a table for them!