MADISON, WI – The Boys & Girls Club of Dane County is partnering with Metcalfe’s Market today to take a bus load of youth and their families (about 50 people) shopping for food, medical supplies, clothes and toys this holiday season.
These families were nominated by local community leaders, school counselors, educators, faith-based leaders and others. The families identified are facing hardship with either being homeless, to mothers with life threatening health conditions, to families that are underemployed to kids who are in the foster care system.
“Boys & Girls Clubs wanted to do something special this holiday season for these families who are facing a hardship and with the number of children experiencing homelessness and hardships,” said Boys & Girls Club of Dane County CEO Michael Johnson. “We thought it would be a good idea to pay it forward for these families by raising additional resources to help them over the holiday season.”
Two years ago, Michael Johnson, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County, Will Green, executive director of Mentoring Positives, and local business owner Tim Metcalfe decided to go undercover together in Madison to experience what it was like to be homeless in our community, and to learn directly from our homeless citizens about the challenges they face every day. What these three men learned is that there are many causes of homelessness, and equally as many challenges for those who find themselves facing hardships.
“A lack of transportation prevents access to vital services such as food, shelter, medical care and job search resources,” said Tim Metcalfe, co-owner of Metcalfe’s Market. “Many homeless people have family in the area and donated bus passes will very likely give them the opportunity to visit family during the holiday season. By giving them the gift of transportation while helping other families with toys, food and medical supplies ,this could make a difference over the holiday season. Our customers and my family hopes this small act of kindness will provide a little bit of hope to our local children, their families and to the homeless community.”
Funding for today’s shopping spree was was graciously provided by:
◆ $15,000 from 126 donors from GoFundMe
◆ $10,000 from Theda Clark Foundation
◆ $2,750 from Black Hawk Church and Ebony Nettles-Bey Memorial Fund
Agencies receiving buss passes:
◆ Porchlight Inc. – Madison Wisconsin
◆ Boys and Girls Club of Dane County
◆ Boys and Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee
◆ Salvation Army of Dane County
◆ Salvation Army of Greater Milwaukee
◆ Friends of the State Street Family – Madison Wisconsin
