Here’s How We’re Putting Your Gifts to Work
Our commitment is to be fully transparent on how every dollar contributed to the Emergency Response Fund and our other response efforts (such as www.FeedDoorCounty.org and www.RentReliefDoorCounty.org). We’ll regularly update totals of the money raised to date along with a complete accounting of how your gifts are being used to help the people of Door County.
Here is a complete breakdown as to how your donations are being used as of 1/10/2022:
Feeding Door County – $302,254 for Feeding Programs
The Community Foundation, United Way, and the food pantries of Door County created the Door County Food Pantry Coalition (www.FeedDoorCounty.org). Your contributions support the food pantries and other feeding programs during this crisis.
Lakeshore CAP – $67,508 for Rental Assistance
To help keep struggling residents from being evicted from their homes during the pandemic, this money will help pay rent for people who have seen a dramatic decline in their income and savings as a result of the current health and economic crisis.
Door County Medical Center – $50,000 for COVID-19 Test Kits and Treatment Prep
DCMC is incurring a tremendous cost responding to the health crisis. This financial assistance will help DCMC with the purchase of test kits, procurement of ventilators, installation of air filtration units, and otherwise prepare the Medical Center to care for COVID-19 patients.
Door County Medical Center Foundation – $45,000 for COVID-19 Testing Equipment
DCMC’s laboratory plays a pivotal role in testing for COVID-19, but it has been overwhelmed as numbers in Door County grow. This money will provide for a new COVID-19 testing machine which will also have value post-pandemic because of its dual ability to test for influenza.
Door County Medical Center Foundation – $42,078 for Testing Shelter
The ability to do rapid drive-thru COVID-19 testing will be seriously compromised by winter in Door County. This money will be used to quickly lay asphalt and build a drive-thru shelter adjacent to the Medical Center so that testing can continue during inclement weather.
Northern Sky Theater – $26,320 for Hands-free Restroom, Dressing Room, & Kitchen Upgrade
In order to meet “Best Practices for Business Operations, Health & Hygiene, Cleaning & Disinfecting and Social Distancing” as provided by the DNR as well as the “Guidelines for Fully Vaccinated Workplaces” as required by the Actors Equity Association, Northern Sky must upgrade the restrooms, dressing rooms, and backstage areas to be completely touchless.
Boys and Girls Club of Door County – $24,463 for Sanitization Equipment
The Club has to make considerable investments in sanitary equipment before welcoming young people back into their facility. From retrofitting toilets with touchless equipment to touchless water coolers, and hand sanitizers, this investment will help keep children safe
Door County Medical Center Foundation – $24,177 for Refrigeration Equipment
From storing testing reagents, holding patient specimens, and keeping vaccines at safe temperatures, the refrigeration equipment at DCMC is failing. This assistance will allow for the purchase and installation of 4 laboratory refrigerators and a laboratory freezer.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Wisconsin – $20,000 for the Recruitment of Bigs in Door County
Big Brothers Big Sisters has seen a 75% decrease in the number of Bigs inquiring about becoming a mentor, a significant drop in numbers from pre-COVID19. This assistance will be used to keep the BBBS community strong, allowing Big Brothers Big Sisters to continue to support and protect children’s emotional well-being during and after this pandemic.
Scandia Village – Good Samaritan Society – $20,000 for Protective Equipment and Staffing
The residents of Scandia Village are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 due to their age and many who have underlying health conditions. This assistance will provide personal protective equipment and help with emergency staffing during the health crisis.
Sturgeon Bay Utilities – $20,000 for Sturgeon Bay Utility Relief Fund
Wisconsin forbids the termination of certain utilities during the winter months but in April the bill comes due. This grant will help low and moderate-income families who are struggling financially by covering a portion of their utility bill and help them get back on their feet.
The Clearing Folk School – $15,596 for HVAC Purification Systems
Funds were used to purchase HVAC iWave air purification systems for all furnaces at the Clearing as well as additional safety items such as sanitization stations, plexiglass, and a UV germicidal lamp.
Boys and Girls Club of Door County – $14,449 to Prepare Free Meals
For adults and children whose family has experienced a sudden loss of income due to the health crisis, the simplest way to help is to provide free meals so they don’t have to spend money on groceries. The Club is already producing more than 600 dinners/day.
Peninsula Players – $12,514 for Contactless Ticket Scanners
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Peninsula Players Theatre faces many challenges as it looks to reopen the theater in 2021. In order to reduce to the spread of COVID-19 and protect our staff, volunteers and patrons, Peninsula Players will not be issuing physical tickets. In order to achieve new contactless entry into the theater, Peninsula Players must acquire wireless ticket scanners and the necessary technology to operate them.
Peninsula School of Art – $11,100 for Student Safety
Peninsula School of Art modified their student check to a touchless format and installed in-room HEPA filters and plexiglass barriers increasing overall safety. An OWL speaker/camera was purchased to be used for virtual interactive programs
Door County Meals Cooperative – $11,000 for Meal Distribution Supplies
The Cooperative is using this money to provide supplies (paper bags, food containers, etc.) to school districts for their breakfast and lunch programs as well as coordinate the enormous volunteer distribution effort to get the Boys and Girls Club meals to people in need.
Door County Medical Center Foundation – $10,656 for Refrigeration Equipment
Many of the COVID-19 vaccines require storage in specialized refrigeration equipment to properly maintain their potency. This assistance will enable the Medical Center to purchase and install two new pharmacy specific refrigeration units.
Peninsula Preschool – $10,000 for the Creation of an Outdoor Classroom
Constructing an outdoor learning classroom will lower the risk of Covid-19 transmission. Sterilizing sunlight and moving air sharply reduce the transmissibility of the Coronavirus and other respiratory diseases. Having class meet outdoors when possible will allow students to remain comfortably apart in less-confined spaces that are not as conducive to transmitting germs.
Lakeshore CAP – $10,000 to Transport Food
As one of the 8 partners in the Food Pantry Coalition, Lakeshore CAP assumes a central role in purchasing grocery items in bulk for the other pantries. This money will help pay for a used truck to be used to transport the food and other items between pantries.
We Are Hope – $9,501 for Virtual Employment Services
With unemployment rates in Door County at its highest levels in a generation, this grant will supplement the wages at this employment services organization so that the community’s unemployed will be able to continue to train and search for work.
Sunshine Resources – $8,440 for Installation of UV Light HVAC System
Some of the developmentally disabled clients of Sunshine House have difficulty adhering to social distancing and mask protocols. This investment allows for the installation of ultra-violet light germicidal air purifiers in the HVAC system to destroy viruses in the air.
Sunshine House – $7,620 for Day Services
The clients of Sunshine House with cognitive disabilities have been displaced from their work floor and other adult day services. This assistance will enable the purchase of therapeutic tools and curriculum so that Sunshine House can offer substitute services.
Lakeshore CAP – $7,000 for JAK’s Place and Supportive Housing Program
People with mental health challenges will “check in” at JAK’s Place as they pick up a free meal. The Supportive Housing Program has been overwhelmed as people lose their job and this financial assistance will stabilize the program until federal dollars are available.
Feed and Clothe My People – $6,000 to Purchase Groceries for the Food Pantry
Their food pantry has seen a spike in demand as people in our community have lost their jobs. This financial assistance will be used to purchase meat, dairy, and non-perishable items to complement the food that was donated from the community.
Door County Partnership for Children and Families – $6,000 for Infant Supplies
The Partnership is providing free diapers, baby wipes, and infant formula to families whose income has been reduced and thus are struggling to make ends meet during the duration of the Wisconsin Safer-at-Home order.
Peninsula Players Theater – $5,700 for Ventilation Upgrades for Reopening
Per CDC recommendations and Actors’ Equity Association requirements, the ventilation systems in the bathrooms, costume shop, and administrative office on the Peninsula Players property need to be updated in order to reopen.
We Are HOPE – $5,680 for Phone System Upgrade
Between stay-at-home orders, the need to quarantine, and mandatory isolation periods, the organization must improve their ability to work remotely. This grant upgrades their phone system to allow for seamless transition between those working in the office and those at home.
Peninsula Players – $5,664 for HEPA Air Purifiers
Per CDC recommendations and Actors’ Equity Association requirements, Peninsula Players Theatre needs to acquire HEPA air purifiers for various work spaces to keep the actors and company healthy. Seven units are required for the Players to open safely in 2021.
HELP of Door County – $5,550 for Technology Needs
The computer infrastructure of HELP needs to quickly be upgraded to enable their Advocates to work remotely and thereby effectively serve the growing number of victims of domestic violence in Door County during this health and economic crisis.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Wisconsin – $5,000 for Get Ready to Get Out
The health crisis has caused an inordinate amount of stress and anxiety among Door County’s children. Big Brothers Big Sister is ramping up efforts to recruit and specially train volunteer mentors to support children as soon as it’s safe to emerge from our homes.
Door CANcer – $5,000 for Cancer Patients Facing Financial Struggles
Confronting cancer is challenging during good economic times, but it can be overwhelming if you’ve lost your job because of this pandemic. Door CANcer will use this money to provide financial assistance with housing, utilities, food, and other bills for cancer patients.
Money Management Counselors – $5,000 for Online Program Development
The Emergency Response Fund grant will be used to develop and launch five virtual programs, allowing all communities access to these programs either on their own time individually with added one-on-one supports or collectively in a group setting when Money Management Counselors offers an online group sign up and conduct the workshops in a group setting.
Legal Aid Society of Door County – $5,000 for Legal Services
The health and economic crisis is causing an increase in domestic violence, bankruptcies, evictions, and several other issues which necessitate the need for an attorney. This assistance will allow Legal Aid to serve more clients who are struggling during this difficult time.
115 Club – $4,916 to Continue Support Meetings During the Pandemic
The 115 Club provides a safe and supportive home for Alcoholics Anonymous meetings 365 days a year in Door County. This assistance has enabled the Club to take adequate safety measures, along with outfitting the Club with better technology, to ensure that meetings can continue throughout the pandemic.
Northern Door Children’s Center – $4,600 for Client Emergency Response Pool
This Client Emergency Response Pool was established during this crisis to enable the professional case managers to respond quickly to individual client needs that cannot adequately be addressed by traditional and/or more restrictive funding sources.
HELP of Door County – $4,832 for Transitional Living Program
The health and economic crisis has increased stress on families, leading to an increase in domestic violence. The Transitional Living Program aids those leaving an abusive situation by helping pay rent and other costs of a new, safe home.
Hope United Church of Christ – $4,600 for Latinos Emergency Assistance Fund (LEAF)
Partnering with the Hispanic Resource Center, Hope Church has identified families in our local community who are in serious need and, in most cases, are not known to or served by other area organizations. This grant provides a flexible quick response pool to provide direct assistance to Door County’s Latino families during this health crisis and recession.
Sturgeon Bay School District – $4,000 for Student Headphones
As school attempted to remain open, quarantines have been ordered for individual groups of students and entire grade levels, depending on the level of exposure. These headphones will be lent out to students attending school from home in an effort to help them avoid distractions and better focus.
Birch Creek Music Performance Center, Inc. – $3,391 for Safer Air Initiative
Birch Creek’s Safer Air Initiative addresses the existing HVAC system in the Miller Music Center where students sleep, rehearse, practice, and perform during the summer months, and where postseason adult programming and fall concert series are conducted. They have placed ultraviolet lights in each of Miller Music Center’s seven HVAC furnaces.
Door County YMCA – $3,657 for Summer Foods Transportation
The YMCA has traditionally served meals to children during the summer months, but during the pandemic those meals cannot be eaten on site. This assistance will help transport meals across the peninsula to pick-up sites closer to where Door County’s children live.
Washington Island Community Health Program – $3,550 to Serve Senior Citizens
The Island’s isolation from the human service programs on the greater peninsula has required exceptional efforts by WICHP. Their emergency meal program is now helping feed the Island’s housebound senior citizens and they are also coordinating the Meals on Wheels volunteers.
United Way of Door County – $3,471 for Stride Program
The current health crisis has impacted the STRIDE school based mental health initiative by limiting the connections and resources for Door County’s kids. The requested funding will go towards purchasing and printing different self-care resources for youth in our community.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Door County – $3,450 for Client Emergency Response Pool
This Client Emergency Response Pool was established during this crisis to enable the professional case managers to respond quickly to individual client needs that cannot adequately be addressed by traditional and/or more restrictive funding sources.
Lakeshore CAP – $3,450 for Client Emergency Response Pool
This Client Emergency Response Pool was established during this crisis to enable the professional case managers to respond quickly to individual client needs that cannot adequately be addressed by traditional and/or more restrictive funding sources.
Family Services – $3,450 for Client Emergency Response Pool
This Client Emergency Response Pool was established during this crisis to enable the professional case managers to respond quickly to individual client needs that cannot adequately be addressed by traditional and/or more restrictive funding sources.
We Are Hope – $3,349 for Unemployment Process Emergency Staffing
The tremendous loss of jobs has put an enormous burden on the unemployment insurance system. These funds will provide for emergency staffing that can assist the unemployed with navigating the unemployment insurance application process.
Door County YMCA – $3,000 for Sanitization and Protective Equipment
The YMCA will use this money to purchase thermometers, disinfectant, gloves and other items to properly sanitize children’s areas. They will also make bulk purchases of craft supplies (glue, crayons, scissors, etc.) so that students will not touch each other’s supplies.
Door Tran – $3,000 for Transportation Services
Qualifying for a vaccination accomplishes nothing unless you have safe transportation to the healthcare site where the vaccine is being administered. This money will help Door-Tran arrange for transportation to vaccination sites and other relief services during this crisis.
HELP of Door County – $3,000 to Address Domestic Violence
Domestic violence issues are only being amplified by the stress of people being out of work and the directive that everyone stay isolated at home. HELP of Door County is working hard to respond to those challenges and work to keep victims safe.
Door County Medical Center Foundation – $3,000 for the Ministry Fund
The Ministry Fund is a flexible pool of money that DCMC uses to help patients and their families with costs such as lodging, shelter, rent, durable medical equipment, and other expenses when a person has nowhere else to turn.
Birch Creek Music Performance Center, Inc. – $2,514 for Touchless Ticketing and Towels
Whether a patron arrives at Birch Creek with a paper ticket or digital ticket on their phone, the usher either tears off part of the ticket, or simply lets the patron in with evidence from their digital device. Either way, there is a need for digital scanning of paper tickets safely (touchless) and the need to digitally scan a ticket from a phone. Funds were used to purchase two touchless scanners with chargers as well as touchless towel dispensers for the public bathrooms.
Door County Fire Chief’s Relief Fund – $2,478 for Miscellaneous Expenses
This money will be used by the Chiefs to provide coordination and management of the enormous numbers of volunteers who are working to distribute food and other relief efforts during this crisis.
Hope United Church of Christ – $2,300 for Client Emergency Response Pool
This Client Emergency Response Pool was established during this crisis to enable the professional case managers to respond quickly to individual client needs that cannot adequately be addressed by traditional and/or more restrictive funding sources.
Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes – $2,160 for Virtual Programming
Many Girl Scout troops continue to meet virtually, using technology to continue to build relationships between these young women and their adult leaders. This assistance will help foster greater virtual programming through this crisis and its aftermath.
United Way of Door County – $2,000 for Partnership for Children and Families
The economic crisis has caused some local families to have trouble providing their young children with the basics such as diapers, wipes, and formula. This assistance creates a pool of money for case managers to purchase these items as needed.
Sturgeon Bay Public Schools – $1,836 for Emotional Learning Kits
Many of our young people are filled with anxiety and other emotions as they watch adults worry about the health and economic implications of the global pandemic. These learning kits are designed to help our youngest students manage their emotions and better focus on learning.
Door County Fire Chiefs Association – $1,507 for Volunteer Software and Insurance
Volgistics is a software used to manage volunteers which allows the Coalition to post volunteer opportunities with specific information to a calendar. Once posted any of the more than 675 volunteers can then sign up to fill the volunteer request. This grant will also extend insurance coverage for the volunteers for the next year.
Gibraltar Historical Association – 1,260 for COVID Supplies
The grant was used to purchase a Whisper UV Air Fan Unit as an added safety feature for the staff The Unit allowed the Gibraltar Historical Association to keep the doors open for the rest of 2021.
We are HOPE – $1,050 for Virtual Office Setup
Helping people deal with the economic fallout of the pandemic has pushed their computer system beyond capacity. This investment in new computer equipment will enable their professional staff to continue to offer their critically important human services.
Money Management Counselors – $1,000 for Social Distancing Services
This assistance will help with the purchase of video conferencing equipment so that the organization can continue to serve its clients as well as provide for delivery of hard copies of documents for families that lack internet access or a computer.
FISC Money Management Counselors – $1,000 for Money Management Program
COVID-19 has made the traditional in-person Money Mindset Makeover workshop impossible. This funding will enable the organization to adapt its program to a virtual setting at a time when financial management is more important than ever.
Neighbor to Neighbor Volunteer Caregivers of Door County – $926 for Labeling Equipment
The financial crisis has caused a dramatic increase in usage of the medical equipment loan program. This money will be used to purchase labeling equipment to better track the equipment as it circulates among those with medical and financial needs.
Peninsula Symphonic Band – $850 for Bell Covers for Instruments
Neither the Peninsula Symphonic Band nor the Swingin’ Door Big Band has rehearsed or performed since December 2019 due to Covid. These covers will allow the band to rehearse in June and be back to full operation by September.
Washington Island Foundation – $800 for Sanitation Supplies
The Washington Island Recreation Center (for which the W.I. Foundation provides financial support) was shuttered from mid-March 2020 until it opened on a very limited basis in late-June 2020 after COVID sanitation efforts and supplies were in place. Funds were used to cover the costs of COVID-based expenses and supplies incurred in re-opening the building such as sanitizer dispenser and sanitizer solution, protective gloves, and pool deck disinfectant.
Washington Island Community Health Program – $692 for Direct Mail Related to COVID-19
WICHP is the only island organization directly addressing the day-to-day issues of how the Covid-19 mandate is affecting island residents and are trying to meet those needs. WICHP worked to develop new ways to effectively communicate important safety information.
Sturgeon Bay School District – $595 for Computer Equipment
COVID-19 is unnerving for adults, but for children it can be a source of paralyzing anxiety. This money will be used to purchase a tablet computer and software applications focused on mental health, emotional management, and social skills. It will be shared among students who need a little help.
The Clearing Folk School – $432 for Commuter Supplies
The Clearing will not be gathering students together in the Lodge Dining Room as it is normally family-style sit-down meals with up to 40 people in a limited space, which The Clearing is known for. The kitchen staff could more easily handle commuter student meals if they were the same delivery method as the on-campus students. Funds were used to purchase insulated food carries and carry bags for place settings.
We will utilize every penny of the Emergency Response Fund before this crisis is over. But we must recognize that the economic damage to the people of Door County will linger long after we emerge from our homes.
Door County’s entire season is in jeopardy. Countless people make the bulk of their income during the warm months and rely upon that to carry them through the winter. This year’s summer income is threatened and we as a community must be prepared to respond not just to today’s immediate needs – but also to the suffering that is likely to linger for many months.
Although we’re apart right now, we can get through this if we work together. We hope you’ll join us in making a gift to the Door County Emergency Response Fund.
