2005 Lenten Giving/Easter Joy Wish List

Le Royer Hospice, Antigo

This end-of-life program is part of Langlade Memorial Hospital, which is sponsored by the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph. It cares for 8-10 terminally ill patients each month and had 95 patients last year. Sr. Adele Demuling, RN, directs the hospice and says they need wheelchairs. They would also like to purchase a six-video series (each costing $125) on the most recent findings and practices on end of life care. The videos would help staff, volunteers and family members give patients "the highest possible quality of life at the end of their lives," said Sr. Adele, "and with the transition of life into eternal life." Contact her at (715)623-2331.

COTS, Appleton
(Community Outreach Temporary Services)

This transitional housing program for men (50 current residents) provides a room, food and counseling - for which residents pay. COTS is an ecumenical project of various churches in the Fox Valley. They need to refurbish their bedding in their three facilities, said Brad Vivoda, executive director. They need mattresses, sheets and pillows, as well as cleaning and paper products. Since they also teach the men work-related computer skills, they need second-hand computers. Call Vivoda at (920)205-6128.

Elizabeth Ministry, Appleton

Elizabeth Ministry, based in Appleton, helps new parents and families. It has spread worldwide with an array of information, activities and support networks. Local parish chapters - 600 in the U.S. with more in Canada, Europe and Asia - provide volunteer mentors and resources to women and families celebrating new life, as well as those suffering loss or infertility. Founder Jeannie Hannemann says their Resource Center needs all types of volunteers, including knitters for prayer shawls, as well as paper products for the free tea room, and office supplies. She also needs a "web site guru to upgrade our web site." Call her at (920)731-3031.

Villa Phoenix, Appleton

This non-profit, community-based residential facility provides a home for men with mental illness, developmental disabilities or chemical dependency. It can host 17 residents at a time, and served 30 men last year. Director Steve Hinton says its residents have limited funds and need personal hygiene supplies. Call him at (920)731-1316.

The Bridge-Between Retreat Center, Denmark

This rural retreat ministry, rooted in Dominican spirituality, serves more than 4,500 people annually. People of all faiths are welcome to study, pray and share meals at this converted farm, which incorporated last year. The retreat center help funds its services through a certified organic garden. Sr. Caroline Sullivan, OP, says they need a new computer, since their old one was "zapped by storms and power surges" three times last year. They also would like a used pick-up to replace their donated 1988 truck, and paper products, stamps, a digital postal scale, laundry products and phone cards. Call Kathy Melville, office manager, at (920)864-7230.

NEW Community Shelter, Green Bay

This emergency shelter provides dining and emergency beds for some of the 200 people who are homeless in Green Bay every day, and also has 16 transitional housing units and a clinic. Residents must find jobs; most do in two to three weeks. Executive director Terri Refsguard says the shelter needs laundry soap, bus tokens and bike locks - most clients don't have cars - and plastic or folding lawn chairs. Call Refsguard at (920)437-3766, ext. 102.

Marion House, Green Bay

This group home for teen mothers offers "a new beginning, a chance to get their lives together and aim for future success," said director, Judy Cleveland. The girls attend high school full-time, and learn basic parenting skills. Part of that involves learning to prepare meals and their stovetop is broken, so a replacement is "an urgent need and very vital to home safety." They also need eight kitchen chairs. Call Cleveland at (920)496-1478.

St. Vincent de Paul House of Hope, Green Bay

It provides housing for pregnant and/or single mothers, ages 18-24, and their children. Staff teaches the women budgeting, nutrition and parenting skills, and helps them complete their education. House of Hope serves up to 10 women at a time. They need a new computer and color printer to track services and needs. Program coordinator Reva Shaw said they also need laundry detergent and all sizes of diapers. Call her at (920)884-6740.

Wellspring, Green Bay

This "place of peace for women" is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross at Bay Settlement. This downtown, drop-in center offers support to 300 women a month. They come from various faiths and ethnic backgrounds and, as Sr. Fran Bangert, OSF, says, "lack strong support systems." Wellspring needs gift certificates from grocery stores, bookstores and office supply outlets, and need a 30-35 cup coffee maker, a paper cutter and a six-foot stepladder for maintenance. Call Sr. Bangert at (920)432-0155.

Community Clothes Closet, Menasha

The Closet distributes clothing, linens and household items free to 1,000 needy families/individuals a month in the Fox Valley. Families, many of whom work at low-income jobs, are referred by service agencies, clergy and domestic abuse shelters. Since its founding in 1980, the Clothes Closet has distributed more than 2.3 million items. Their New Start Boutique finds clothes for those entering the job market and the Special Occasions Program, which lends attire for weddings, proms and other formal events. Executive director Diane Bishop says they need large-size clothing, paper and envelopes, and sheets and blankets. They rely heavily on special drives organized by groups. Contact her at (920)731-7834.

St. Anthony/Menominee Community Center, Neopit

St. Anthony Parish serves in an area of 40% unemployment, said Sr. Stephanie Spence, pastoral associate. St. Anthony's regularly helps families pay their heating costs in winter, so "we don't have too much extra of anything." Two of their coffee-makers shorted out last year and need replacing, as do 20 aluminum folding chairs. Both are used for funerals and adult events at the church. Call Sr. Spence at (715)756-2361.

Salvatorian Mission Warehouse, New Holstein

For 41 years, Br. Regis Fust, SDS, and his volunteers have shipped aid to missionaries. Items are donated by companies, but shipments still cost thousands of dollars. "It's that constant need," said Br. Fust. "Money." The warehouse ships an average of one semi-sized container a day and spends an average of $60,000 a month for shipping.

Br. Fust says that, despite their many company ties, the warehouse needs more contacts to large companies that have supplies to donate. He also needs large numbers of sheets, blankets and sewing materials. He hopes hospitals and hotels have older bedding to dispose of, since missionaries need them. Call him at (920)898-5898.

Chaplain, Oshkosh Correctional Institution

Sr. Susan Clark, SSND, is a chaplain at this medium security prison, which houses 2,040 inmates. She says "many of the Catholic men have been away from the church for a while and having materials to reconnect them to their Catholic tradition can help their re-entry."

She is asking for subscriptions to the Catholic Update by St. Anthony Press for the Year of the Eucharist - which men can take to their cells after Saturday evening Mass - and a volunteer to lead the Hispanic Bible study. Call her at (920)231-4010, ext. 2171.

Fr. Carr's Place 2B, Oshkosh

For more than 30 years, Fr. Marty Carr has built a network of services for needy and sick throughout Oshkosh, including a food bank and pantry, Bethlehem Inn shelter and St. Francis Free Community Health Clinic. They need diabetic test strips, vitamins, alcohol-free cough syrup, stuffed animals and books for children. Fr. Carr also needs volunteer medical personnel for the clinic, and clerical volunteers. Call him at (920)231-2378.

Labor of Love, Oshkosh

This "Christ-centered maternity home" for women in crisis pregnancies opened eight years ago. They have room for four residents at a time, averaging 12 women and six babies each year.

Additionally, they serve more than 600 women on an out-patient basis. Director Burdean Schultz says they need a bigger home, with more storage and a garage. They also need a four-drawer business file, and donations of canned fruit and juice, which comprise "a large part of our food budget." Call Schultz at (920)231-6006.