Keeping Neighbors Warm is back to collect winter outerwear donations

MIDDLETON, Wis. — Visit Middleton invites community members to participate in “Keeping Neighbors Warm,” an annual clothing drive that gathers new or slightly used winter outerwear donations for Middleton and its surrounding communities.

Residents and visitors may donate winter outerwear to this year’s “Keeping Neighbors Warm” beginning Wednesday, Nov. 22, through Wednesday, Dec. 13. Drop-off locations include: Keva Sports Center (8312 Forsythia Street), Middleton Public Library (7425 Hubbard Avenue), Willy Street Co-op West (6825 University Avenue), and the Middleton Visitors Center (1811 Parmenter Street). Requested items include winter coats, snow pants, hats, gloves, scarves and boots for all ages. 

“Winter in Wisconsin is a beautiful, magical time, but only if we’re warm enough to enjoy it,” said Mari Olson, director of tourism at Visit Middleton. “Keeping Neighbors Warm is about just that — neighbors helping neighbors during the coldest months of the year. It’s heartening to see how many people rise to the occasion and help our community through this drive.”

Each week, Visit Middleton staff will collect the winter outerwear items and deliver them to WayForward Resources, formerly known as Middleton Outreach Ministry, for distribution. These items go directly to those in the community who are in the most need of staying warm, safe and healthy this winter.

“This drive was a huge success last year and kept a lot of people in our community warm throughout the winter months,” said Ellen Carlson, executive director for WayForward Resources. “Families who access what they need from our Clothing Center can instead focus their monthly budgets on paying for rent and other essential needs. We’re proud to partner with Visit Middleton to bring our community together to help build stability for everyone.”

This will be the second year for “Keeping Neighbors Warm,” hosted through Visit Middleton, the City of Middleton’s tourism department, but it will be the eighth year the office has participated in a clothing drive, formerly known as Big Bundle Up. Last year, Visit Middleton gathered 607 winter outerwear items.

“The Middleton community has supported this drive for years and yet it’s always a humbling experience when we take stock of all the donations brought in,” Olson said. “You can tell that the community values outreach and we are so grateful that WayForward is part of our community and provides resources for those in need. It has been a wonderful partnership.”

For more information about Visit Middleton, go to visitmiddleton.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.