Food Drive for the Hartland and Pewaukee Food Pantries!

Volunteers of Lake Country staffed 3 two-hour shifts at the Hartland Pick 'n Save on Saturday Aug. 28th collecting food for the Hartland Food Pantry. Summer months are a crisis time for the pantries, and their shelves were close to empty. Volunteers passed out fliers to customers with a list of most needed items, and collected their donations as they exited. Customers were happy to help and their generosity filled many cars with food by the end of the day! A commitment of just 2 hours of time....thank you for making a difference!

The Pewaukee Kiwanis volunteered to staff the Pewaukee Pick 'n Save on the same day as the VLC drive...allowing us the opportunity to run 2 Food Drives for 2 Food Pantries on the same day! Donations poured in for their local Pantry, and shelves were full again....at least for awhile! Thank you all for commitment to helping others....thank you for your gift of time!

August's Second Client!

This is a story about a dedicated caseworker named Susan who drove to Hartland with her pick up truck, about Kathie the Arrowhead High School Key Club advisor who rounded up the muscles to help load, and finally about Cindy the donator of a beautiful couch, who has been keeping it in her dining room for 2 months because there was no room in the VLC locker....who all

came together to load up a couch, two LR chairs, a table and a lamp and deliver it to Susans client! The mom and dad both work, have 5 children of their own and have just accepted placement of their 8 year old nephew, who needed a home. Thanks to all who made this happen!!

August's Client of the Month

After losing her job, and then her apartment, Amy, her son (7) and her daughter (8) lived in a shelter for a few months. she is now back on her feet with a new job and a new apartment. they moved in the day before VLC delievered. It was an easy move, they had very little. They all slept that night in mom's bed, as it was the only one in the apartment, and they were unable to cook, because they had no cookware. The outpouring of donations for this client were amazing. It was Christmas on our porch 3 days in a row! On delivery day the couch, loveseat, table and lamp were set up in the living room. The kitchen cupboards were filled with dishes, silverware, pots and pans, utensils, kitchen towels and mitts you shared. A dresser in mom's room and bath towels in the linen closet. A beautiful metal lofted bed for Sienna, and another matching (but shared by another donator!) for the son that we tucked beneath, as the room was very small. We still had room for dresser and shelving that was shared, and made up the beds with new linens. Amy could not believe your generousity and she thanks you all. Her comment to her children....volunteers did this. They made our apartment a home!!

School Supplies for Children in Need!

Volunteers of Lake Country staffed Sam's Club, Wal-Mart, and Walgreens with volunteers on July 31st. We collected mountains of school supplies for children in need estimated at $5,800.00, $550.00 in cash donations, a $1,000.00 Community Grant donated by Sam's Club, and a $500.00 Community Grant donated by Wal-Mart. VLC donated almost $8,000.00 in supplies and cash to the Backpack Coalition of Waukesha County. Volunteers had so much fun, and were so amazed at the generosity of strangers! One women filled her cart with $285.00 in school supplies to share! She recalled when her husband taught school, that many of his students were unable to afford school supplies. She was so happy to have stopped the day that VLC was collecting and so happy to be able to help!

Delivery to July's Client of the Month

Beds....Beds....Beds! We shared 6 of them in July! VLC delivered to 2 families this month. The first was a mom with 3 teens, 2 which had disabilities. All were sleeping on blow up mattresses, none of which held air any longer. We shared 4 beds and all of the bedding. The 2nd family was a single mom with health issues and 2 teenage children. They came to WI after Katrina with very little. We brought a bed for mom who had been sleeping on the couch, and another for one of the children. We shared bedding for all of the beds, a dresser, and boxes of dishes, silverware, utensils, and pots and pans for mom. Mom was going thru her boxes of kitchen items with the excitement of a child at Christmas!

Volunteers of Lake Country were contacted by a youth group of 9-11 year olds who signed up for a one week summer camp...5 days of volunteering! They were looking for volunteer opportunities. We set up a Food Drive for them at a Pick N Save in Wales, and a Pick N Save in Waukesha, to benefit the Kettle Moraine and Waukesha Food Pantries. Thanks to the 65 Volunteers....95 Volunteer Hours....4 vans of food collected...and $230.00 in cash donations!

June's Client of the Month

The 8 and 5 year old daughters shared a bedroom. It was empty except for the white and pink sheer curtains on the windows. They shared the floor. They were so excited we were bringing beds and dressers for their bedrooms, that they had been waiting and watching for us since 1:00. We arrived on time at 7:00! We set up the two platform beds, with drawers beneath, moved in 3 white dressers, made the bed each with a new set of sheets, and new comforters....we brought the pink ones by coincidence! The girls were so excited. Thank you to all of the donators that made this delivery possible! The caseworker sent this note:

Maria, her family and I can't thank you enough for last night's donations. Maria had tears in her eyes and was extremely excited for her children. Please let the deliverers and donators know how much it was appreciated. I know I have said this before....but I can't say it enough, we're truly blessed to have friends like VLC. Adriana / Healthy Families of Waukesha County

June's Project-VLC's Garden for Good

Saturday June 19th....over 20 volunteers working in the VLC Garden for Good. The entire produce of this garden is donated to area meal sites, and food pantries for the families that they serve. 50 volunteer hours of trenching, weeding and mulching. The garden looked amazing! Thank you to everyone! However.... 2 weeks have passed....more sun....more rain....more weeds! Please let us know if there is 1 day this summer, when you can give 1 hour of time to stop and weed a bed, and we will put you on the schedule! This is a continuing project that we need continous help on!

May's Client of the Month

I asked the caseworker to share a few words about May's Client. She said "Beth is a hard- working, responsible, single mom with a 3 year old son. She is a wonderful success story, and an inspiration to me." We found out that she was right, when we delivered. She was so sweet, so excited, and so grateful for the items we shared! A computor desk, to house a computor she had saved for...and had purchased with a few learning games for her son at Goodwill, a beautiful kitchen table and matching hutch along with 2 bedroom pieces to help them keep the bedroom they share organized! And...to whomever dropped off a box of dinosaurs, a dinosaur lamp, and dinosaur books, on our porch...please know they now have a new home...and they are loved!
Other May Shares!
We received calls from 2 donators who each had a washing machine and a dryer to share. We can all imagine how much must be added to a family budget when laundry must be done at a laundromat. One of the moms has 2 children both with substantial disabilities... so just going was difficult. 2 families...both so grateful! Thank you again for this very generous donation!

This beautiful armoire was donated by a family. It was too big for an apartment...but thanks to the muscles of a new volunteer with a trailer who picked it up and transported it to the Women's Center. They shared: " Thanks to VLC for coordinating this wonderful donation, and to the donor. It is truly a beautiful piece of furniture, and is pictured above in one of our transitional homes, where it will be enjoyed by one of our families"
May's Final Share: We had accumulated many extra sets of gently used twin sheets over the past 16 months. Rather than continue to hold them we decided to share 18 sets of them with social services. We received this note from a caseworker, "I have a non verbal 16 year old autistic girl named Sara who functions at a 3 year old level. Her parents were thrilled to receive the sheets with the cartoon characters on for her. She is enthralled with all of the characters. I am sure you assumed that they would go to a small child but as soon as the caseworker saw them, she thought of Sara. Her parents were very appreciative.

May's Project

VLC gathered teams of volunteers on Saturday May 22nd and Sunday May 23rd to help the elderly and disabled in the Lake Country communities of Hartland, Delafield and Pewaukee with spring yard clean up. They washed windows, cleaned gutters, raked the lawn and flower beds, spread mulch and planted flowers. Pictured are two families who shared 2 hours of time. Thank you to all who participated, I know the clients were so grateful.

Grounds Clean Up at Old World Wisconsin April 17

20 Volunteers of Lake Country joined 150 other volunteers from other groups at Old World Wisconsin on Saturday April 17th. A perfect spring day for raking, mulching, trimming and working in their gardens. We each worked from 9:00-12:30...only 3 1/2 hours each....but together we logged 600 volunteer hours and saved Old World $5,000.00! Thanks for joining in...on to our own yards!!

Collection for Children in Crisis.

Children coming to the Foster Care Program or teens coming to the

Juvenile Center are often arriving unexpectantly, and with very

little. The month of April we asked you to share the basics for the
Foster Closet....socks and underwear, and for the Juvenile Center...socks, underwear, sweats, teen books, teen games (board or electronic), footballs, basketballs and DVD's (G, PG, PG-13). We delivered 14 boxes today! The caseworkers for both departments were amazed and so grateful that you shared these items with their clients! We had 7 boxes of for each location. Thank you so much for your generosity and for participating! If by chance you are spring cleaning and come across these items in the coming month...or just didn't get around to gathering them in time, I would be happy to drop again at the end of May. (We didn't receive any sports items, teen games or DVD's in this month's collection!)

Volunteers of Lake Country's Garden for Good.

Every Sunday at 1:30 (except Holidays), VLC Garden Volunteers will be found at the Garden for Good. April 18th was their first 'work day', and work they did! They rolled up their sleeves, put on their gloves, dug, double dug, weeded, mulched, planted, and built pea and bean poles! There is still much to do! All are welcome, please stop in on a Sunday for however much time you have to share. Come to check it out...come to learn...or come to help! All of the produce will be donated to area pantries and meal sites.

VLC named 'Volunteer Group of the Year' by United Way of Waukesha County

Five of the ten project coordinators for VLC accepted the honor of being named 'Volunteer Group of the Year' by United Way of Waukesha County, on behalf of the 430 volunteers in our group! To all of you, who have donated your time, your treasure, or have worked to share our information with others in the community, so we can continue to grow...THANK YOU for making a difference in the lives of others!

March's Client of the Month...and Other Shares!!

A mom and her 3 children living in Oconomowoc. 14 and 2 year old sons, and an 11 year old daughter. The nicest family! This beautiful dining table, bedroom set, linens, and a desk were shared by you and delivered to them. They were so excited...so grateful. Imagine, a 14 year old boy saying 'thank you' for a kitchen table and a desk to study at! (mom shared, he was student of the month...2 months in a row!!)
Other shares in March:

A VLC volunteer contacted us about a stroke survivor, unable to work. He was in his early 50's and living in Lake Country. He had been sleeping on a futon, and it broke. He has physically unable to get into a regular bed...it was too high. We contacted Katy's Kloset in Waukesha....it is a lending library for hospital equipment. He met with them, and a hospital bed was delivered free of charge to his apartment within a weeks time!

We posted a need for a washing machine in the March Newsletter, for a single dad with 3 children in Waukesha. Within 2 days of it going out...we were contacted with a washing machine...in another 2 days, a dryer! The caseworker made arrangements to pick them up and deliver them within a weeks time!

This beautiful changing table/dresser was shared with new parents, both working, and living in a very small apartment in Hartland. They were so grateful for this beautiful share!

Thank you for your generosity month after month!

Drive for Healthy Families of Waukesha County

Saturday March 27th VLC held a drive at the Hartland Walgreens, Pewaukee Wal-Mart and the Oconomowoc K Mart. They collected a mountain of diapers, wipes, formula and other baby items for Healthy Families. They are an organization who work with families who are struggling, offering support and education. The month of March donators filled the drop off site with gently used clothing and baby gear to share. 3 cribs, 2 double strollers, 3 single strollers, 4 car seats, 2 exersaucers, an infant swing, 10 boxes of clothing, and 2 boxes of

infant toys were collected. Arrowhead High School Key Club distributed 1,000 fliers and bags into the community and collected baby items. Thanks to the 40 + volunteers who made this happen! A HF caseworker shared: A BIG THANKS TO VLC! We were thrilled with all that you were able to collect for the baby shower. Your group just amazes us! Our families will be so thankful that we have things to share with them. For so many families, the tough economic times have forced them to make some very difficult decisions about how to make their limited dollars strectch to meet all of their needs. You have been a big part in making this be a less stressful time and to assure that the babies have what they need. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts~

(VLC will ALWAYS accept donations of pack & plays, cribs (a soda can cannot fit through the rails), and saftey gates throughout the year!)

February Collection for the Hartland and Pewaukee Food Pantries and the Lake Area Free Clinic!

The shelves are full again at the local food pantries...at least for a little while, thanks to the 24 VLC volunteers who helped make this food drive such a wonderful success! To our new friends at the Pewaukee High School Key Club, the couples, men, women, teens, and the families with young children (customers cannot resist those children!) who participated. When asked about helping, this family shared: "This was a great experience for the whole family. We feel that giving back to the community is very important, and even more important is to include our children." 10 car fulls of groceries, $550.00 in donations, and in addition to the Food Pantry donations, the Lake Area Free Clinic (http://www.lakeareafreeclinic.org/) received 75 over the counter medications for their clients. This will certainly help both of the pantries and the clinic to serve those in our community who are struggling with the increased demand.

Deliveries for February....Beds...Beds...Beds!

We delivered to February's Client, but could not set up the bunk beds or dresser in the boys room, the 2 twin beds in the girls room, or the dresser, nightstands or bed in mom and dads room. We couldn't share the new linens and comfortors for all of the beds! We delivered, and the family shared some exciting news...a new start for this family! Dad had gotton a new and really good job, and the family was moving from a small and not great apartment, to a larger single family house with a nice lot in just 2 weeks! A New job...a New Start...a New house...and they will wait to set up their New beds, dressers, and linens! The caseworker will send photos once they settle in! Congratulations to this family on their New beginning! February didn't end there a caseworker and her clients met us at the locker and we shared a beautiful queen platform bed, mattress, and nightstand. The couple shared: "This is a wonderful gift and blessing. Work has been very limited due to the economy and weather, and unexpected medical bills for our son. Thank you to those who gave of their time and financially, to make our lives a little better" Another caseworker picked up and delivered a dining table and 4 chairs for her family to share meals at! Lastly, a VLC member contacted us with a couch and loveseat.and asked if we could find a new home for them! It is now living in the Foster Care Visiting Room! The donator is so happy to have it be put to good use, and the caseworker sent this note: A big THANK YOU for the very generous donation of this couch and love seat. This room is used on a daily basis for family visitations and for the Birth to 3 program. We are thrilled to have received such wonderful couches and so grateful for our families to have a nice place to visit!

Deliveries & Pick Ups for January's Clients!

This beautiful crib along with the drop leaf table and chairs were delivered to a single mom and her baby. This was the client who walked to her 2nd shift job whom you shared a winter coat, boots, and Christmas gifts with in December! This mom told the caseworker that in all her life... as a child, and as an adult...she never had 2 such beautiful pieces of furniture in her home!

A white metal twin bed, and a beautiful wood framed twin bed, sheets and comforters were donated and shared with 2 little girls...both named Ashley! One caseworker shared "This mom could never have gotten a bed on her limited income. The bedroom looks just beautiful!" The other caseworker said " My Ashley, age 6, has been so excited about her new “Big Girl” bed that she received from your wonderful group of people. She especially loves the blue quilt adorned with butterflies! We cannot thank the Volunteers of Lake Country enough for your tremendous generosity." And...2 more deliveries were made today! One to January's Client, a young couple and their new baby who moved from her parents home into an apartment of their own. We shared boxes upon boxes of donated kitchenware (utensils, pots and pans, bakeware etc...), the wooden table & chairs above, lamps, linens, nightstands, and living room tables! The 2nd delivery was to a single mom with 4 children. A beautiful metal bunk bed, mattresses, sheets, comforters. They were so excited about having the bunkbed...no longer sleeping on the floor, and the couch, that they were painting the bedroom when we arrived, and decided to finish the paint job, and then set up the bunks themselves!

Volunteers of Lake Country Provide Christmas for 122 Children!

Volunteers of Lake Country were invited to sponsor a child this Christmas as the November/ December Project. Members of our group seemed to love this project. We matched their requests (# of children/ages) with families in need. They called the mom's and received the child's wish/need list, shopped and delivered the gifts to the families. 122 children were sponsored by VLC members! 122 children that may not have had Christmas! The Executive Director of Christmas Clearing Council said, "No group, in our 60 year history has ever sponsored as many children for Christmas!" Talk about the generosity of strangers.... We received many wonderful emails about this first time experience for families, here is just one:
"I found sponsoring to be an extremely rewarding experience! I will definitely do it every year! Not only was it wonderful to see the children that I was helping, but it was an amazing experience to sit and talk with the mother. I think it gave her hope to hear how I had come through some of the bad times in my life. I know the both of us had a better Christmas this year! Thank You so much for making this possible!"