Community Partners are Brightening the Holidays for COA Children and Families

Project Description

For most families, the holidays are synonymous with food, festivities and gift-giving. Holiday traditions are usually defined by large social gatherings and spending time with family and friends. While we may not be able to come together physically this season, we can still connect as a community to spread goodwill. This year, our generous community partners are brightening the holidays for COA children and families through gestures of shared comfort and joy.

Northwestern Mutual prepared Thanksgiving meals for COA’s virtual Thanksgiving celebration with the Milwaukee Repertory Theater. Brady Corporation also donated hundreds of Thanksgiving meals for families this year, complete with full sides and gift cards for turkeys! United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County is providing gifts for children through their annual Holiday Giving Tree gift drive. Whenever possible, United Way plans to purchase gifts from Black-owned businesses, small businesses, and women-owned businesses in our region! United Way also donated hundreds of Thanksgiving meals for families this year.

Brady Corporation donated hundreds of Thanksgiving meals for families this year, complete with full sides and gift cards for turkeys!

The team at Gruber Law Offices has joined together to purchase, wrap, and deliver gifts for children. Shorewest Realtors is stepping up to help Santa out by adopting family wish lists and supplying gifts for children and families. CliftonLarsonAllen is making sure older kids aren’t overlooked by gifting a diverse array of fun and engaging presents for preteens and teens. Hupy and Abraham are donating holiday meals for families, in addition to the full Thanksgiving meals they provided earlier this year.

In the spirit of Jewish community service, Tikkun Ha-Ir and Congregation Shalom are teaming up to fulfill holiday wish lists through a toy drive for children. As part of their annual Noche de Niños toy drive, the Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee are providing gifts for COA children for the third year in a row! Kiwanis Club of the North Shore is generously gifting holiday presents for children, in addition to donating Thanksgiving meals with turkeys and all the sides and fixings earlier this year!

West Suburban YMCA is running a winter gear and holiday gift drive for children and families. Longtime friends of COA Joanne Meier and Angela Sprau (Johnson Controls) are spreading winter warmth and holiday cheer through individual winter gear and toy drives. Every Saturday for the last several months, COA supporter Mark Gengler has been spreading abundance by delivering fresh produce and eggs for shoppers at COA’s food pantry.

COA supporter Mark Gengler has been spreading abundance by delivering fresh produce and eggs for shoppers at COA’s food pantry.

We are so grateful for all of our wonderful community partners who are making sure the holidays are as joyous and connected as ever this year. While our traditions may look a little different, the spirit of the season remains the same: sharing generosity, gratitude and goodwill. On behalf of all of us at COA, we wish you safe, peaceful and happy holidays!