Appleton (91.9FM), Green Bay (91.5FM), Wausau/Stevens Point (88.5FM), Sheboygan (91.3FM), Eau Claire (99.9FM), Milwaukee (92.9 / 102.5FM), WI – The Family Radio Network’s 33rd annual Help for the Homeless Hygiene Drive celebrates another record-breaking year! Over $723,000 worth of new hygiene and cleaning supplies now stock the shelves of 137 crisis programs in 22 communities across Wisconsin. The Family Radio Network thanks over 1,050 businesses, churches, and schools who hosted collection boxes and all those who so generously donated these products to help their local crisis programs. We partner with area crisis programs and homeless coalitions by inviting the community to donate needed hygiene and cleaning items for their local agencies through the Help for the Homeless Hygiene Drive. These donations make it possible for local crisis programs to direct their limited financial resources to provide qualified staff, safe housing, nutritious food, education, and counseling to those they serve.

A client of a participating local community support agency had stopped buying laundry detergent a long time ago, as other things, like rent, food, and medicine became higher priorities. The client had been handwashing her shirts in the sink, rotating what she wore, and hoping folks didn’t notice the smell. She later shared she had done three loads of laundry the day she’d been given the soap, and she said,

“The smell of clean clothes filled my tiny apartment. For the first time in a while, I felt like I could breathe easier. It wasn’t just the detergent. It was hope, wrapped in a plastic bottle. A reminder that I mattered and that someone cared.”
 
A client at another participating local community support agency shared,

“The stress of deciding between buying food to eat or buying a basic hygiene product is overwhelming and demoralizing. When I received a hygiene bag, I knew someone cared about me and my well-being. This was a powerful motivator for change and it empowered me to actively start looking for better employment opportunities.”

The Family Radio Network, along with the 137 participating crisis programs, thanks everyone who hosted boxes, donated, volunteered with, promoted, and sponsored the drive! Businesses, churches, and schools participate by placing collection boxes in their high traffic areas and inviting their own staff, members, and students to donate. Financial donations are also welcome.

Since 1992, The Family Radio Network’s Help for the Homeless Hygiene Drive has provided 6.7 million dollars’ worth of hygiene and cleaning supplies for local Wisconsin crisis programs, with donations remaining in the communities where they are collected.

Save the date! Next year’s dates are tentatively planned for February 22 through March 15, 2026. More info at the familly.net or call 800-236-9364.

PARTICIPATING AGENCIES IN in 2025:

East and Northeast Wisconsin - BROWN COUNTY – GREEN BAY: Brown County United Way, Ecumenical Partnership for Housing, Family Services of Northeast WI – Early Head Start, Family Services of Northeast WI – Families First, Freedom House, Golden House – Rapid Rehousing, Golden House – Shelter, Green Bay Area Public Schools – Homeless Children & Youth Program, Green Bay Community Church - Giving Tree Pantry, House of Hope – Emergency Shelter, House of Hope – Housing Stability, HOWE Community Resource Center, Integrated Community Solutions, Mandolin Foundation, Newcap – Emergency Shelter, Newcap – Rental Assistance, St. John’s Ministries – Resource Centers, St. John’s Ministries – Shelters, St. Vincent de Paul – Conferences, St. Vincent de Paul – Resource Center, The Salvation Army Basic – Needs, The Salvation Army – Pathway of Hope, Wise Women Gathering Place CALUMET COUNTY - CHILTON: St. Vincent de Paul – Brillion, St. Vincent de Paul – Hilbert, St. Vincent de Paul – New Holstein, The Salvation Army – Calumet County, Tri-Parish Open Cupboard Food Pantry CLINTONVILLE: Clintonville Public School District, Compassionate Connections Center, Core Treatment Services – Shawano Recovery FOND DU LAC: ADVOCAP, Beacon House, Blandine House, Hope on the Block, New Beginnings Pregnancy Care Center, St. Vincent de Paul – Fond du Lac, The Salvation Army – Fond du Lac County, Solutions Center Shelter & Support Services FOX CITIES - APPLETON: ADVOCAP, Appleton Area School District – Homeless Children & Youth Program, Apricity, B.A.B.E.S., Inc. Child Abuse Prevention Program, Boys & Girls Clubs – Home Base, COTS, Fox Valley Technical College – Appleton Student Services, Hope Clinic and Care Center, Hortonville Area School District – Homeless Children & Youth Program, LEAVEN, Menasha Joint School District – Homeless Children & Youth Program, Partnership Community Health Center, Pillars, Riverview Gardens, Ryan Community Housing Programs, St. Vincent de Paul – Neenah, The Salvation Army Bread of Life Assistance Center – New London, The Salvation Army – Fox Cities, SOAR Fox Cities, Vida Medical Clinic, Vivent Health

MANITOWOC: The Crossing, Gracious Givers, The Haven of Manitowoc County, Hope House, InCourage Domestic Violence Shelter, Lakeshore CAP, Lighthouse Recovery Community Center, Lotus Recovery Homes, Manitowoc Public School District Caring Closet, Painting Pathways Clubhouse, The Production Farm, The Salvation Army- Manitowoc County, UW Green Bay – Manitowoc Student Services

MARINETTE & PESHTIGO: Abundant Life Shelter; The DAR Boys & Girls Club; Dorothy's Haven of Hope Shelter; Elizabeth House for Women; House of Dreams Clubhouse; Marinette SVdP Community Pantry; Menominee SVdP Community Pantry; NEWCAP - Marinette; Northeast Wisconsin Technical College - Marinette - Student Care Closet; NorthLakes Community Center; Peshtigo Community Pantry; Rainbow House Shelter; UP Foster Care Closet OCONTO: Newcap - Oconto OSHKOSH: ADVOCAP, Bella Parent Support Services, Father Carr’s Place 2B, OshCOTS, Oshkosh Area Community Pantry, Read Elementary School – Homeless Children & Youth Program, The Salvation Army Oshkosh, Tiny House Village SEYMOUR: Community 2000, St. Vincent de Paul – Seymour, The Salvation Army Black Creek Bread of Life Assistance Center

SHEBOYGAN: Lakeshore CAP, Lakeshore Community Health Care, Lighthouse Recovery Community Center, Love INC, The Production Farm, Safe Harbor, St. Vincent de Paul Sheboygan, The Salvation Army – Sheboygan County, Sheboygan County Interfaith (SCIO), Sheboygan County Warming Shelter

Central and West Central Wisconsin: ANTIGO: Avail, Inc. CHIPPEWA FALLS: Family Support Center, LE Phillips CDC Outreach EAU CLAIRE: The Community Table, Eau Claire Area School District – Homeless Program, Hope Gospel Mission, The Salvation Army of The Chippewa Valley MARATHON COUNTY - WAUSAU: Community Center of Hope, Granite House, The Neighbors’ Place, The Open Door MARSHFIELD: Hannah Center, Mary’s Place, PDC Orenda Center, St. Vincent de Paul Outreach, Shirley's House of Hope TAYLOR COUNTY - MEDFORD: Stepping Stones, Taylor County Supportive Housing MENOMONIE: The Bridge to Hope STEVENS POINT: Bread of Life Center of Portage County, Evergreen Community Initiatives WAUPACA: Agape Center, CAP Services, Foundations for Living WISCONSIN RAPIDS: The Family Center, FOCUS Food Pantry (SWEPS), Hannah Center, Wisconsin Rapids Public School District – Homeless Children & Youth Program
Southeast Wisconsin: MILWAUKEE: The Salvation Army Emergency Lodge - Milwaukee

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The Family Radio Network, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing contemporary Christian music and programming, as well as community outreach support across Wisconsin since 1969. The radio network has 12 signals and 6 stations in Wisconsin: 91.9FM WEMI Appleton/Oshkosh, 91.5FM WEMY Green Bay, 91.3FM WSTM Sheboygan, 88.5FM WGNV Wausau/Stevens Point, 99.9FM Eau Claire, 92.9 / 102.5FM WEMK Milwaukee. More information at www.thefamily.net.