Coats For Kids

Despite the name, we collect coats for all ages around Christmas time. With the average high temperature of 24º and the average snowfall of 14", winters are cold in Wisconsin. The homeless population in the Fox Cities is rising, leaving more people out in the cold. 

In 2023 The Salvation Army - Fox Cities collected 4,895 children's coats. This number does not include the adult coats we received as those are accepted and handed out, but not counted. This was an amazing community response that allowed us to give more coats than ever before! 

Toys for Tots items are collected through many area partners. These items are new, packaged toys that are donated by individuals, families, and businesses to help support area families who may not be able to afford the Christmas they want for their children. Items are collected for infants up to 17 years old. Historically, we have a higher need for teen items as they run out quickly. The Toys for Tots items are distributed through our Toy Shop program. The Toy Shop is an option for families who did not participate in the Adopt-A-Family program. Through generous volunteers who give up hours of their time, we can sort toys by age group and allow families to pick out the perfect gifts for their children. 

This year, 32,508 toys were collected all across locations in Appleton, Menasha, Neenah, Little Chute, Kimberly, Kaukauna, and Greenville. Of these toys, 1,550 were books or puzzles, 3,055 were various games, and 1,626 were stuffed animals. Exactly 13,518 small toys were packaged by threes into 4,506 stocking stuffer bags. Finally, 21,771 were true toys that families chose especially for their children. Through these amazing donations, 1,526 families picked up Christmas joy from our Menasha location for children ages 0-17. See below the breakdown of age groups in which gifts were picked up.

The Adopt A Family program allows the Fox Cities community to "adopt" another family in the area. Generally, the donor fills out a form that specifies the needs they can fill and our case workers match them to a family with similar needs. The donor spends about $100 a child and includes a grocery gift card to allow the family to purchase a meal for Christmas. 

This year the Fox Cities community adopted 350 families made up of 556 adults and 994 children. 

For those who do not have children, they have the opportunity to ask for a food gift card. If they qualify, gift cards are handed out per family to enjoy a Christmas meal of their choosing. This year 421 adults from 369 families were able to be gifted from this program.