(WLUK) — When disasters happen, Northeast Wisconsin shows up to help its neighbors — and historic flooding hitting the region is bringing a lot of support.
Cases of water, granola bars, even sandwich meat — those were just some of the things Geri Guyette, owner of the Black Otter Supper Club in Hortonville, and her team dropped off for sandbagging volunteers in Fremont Friday.
When disasters happen, Northeast Wisconsin shows up to help its neighbors — and historic flooding hitting the region is bringing a lot of support. (WLUK)
“Since Hortonville is doing really well, we don’t have any danger, I couldn’t look at the pictures anymore and sit home and do nothing. So, the last few days we’ve been running food to Shiocton, Clintonville, Manawa, New London and now Fremont. We have more to come,” she said.
The Black Otter is just one of many local businesses coming to the aid of victims and volunteers as flood waters continue to rise. Tens of thousands of sandbags have been prepared in various communities.
“Hardtails in Hortonville and I are going to make five NESCOs of hot beef and stuff to run out on Sunday, because I’m sure these people are going to be pretty tired by Sunday,” added Guyette.
Flood waters have already consumed the Clintonville Truckers’ baseball field, concession stand and clubhouse. The school is hosting its own online fundraiser to help pay for the damage to their field, buildings and gear.
The Green Bay Rockers chose the Truckers as the recipient of its opening weekend fundraiser package.
“It’s just an absolute no-brainer to do it for them, and hopefully, we raise a pretty good amount of money for their field,” said Brian Kuklinski, director of partnerships with the Rockers. “The gist of it is, for $15, you get a ticket to a game on our opening weekend, which is the last weekend of May, and then you also get a hat. So, for $15, a ticket and a hat, and for every one of those we sell, we’re going to get $7 back to the Clintonville baseball program.”
The United Way Fox Cities and the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region launched an online fundraiser that will help with recovery from floods. All monetary donations to the community response fund are staying local.
According to Wendy Krueger with the United Way, “The first step is to make sure we have funds coming in to support whatever the needs will be, and then we’ll work with those closest to the needs to determine the best way to get those funds into the community.”
The New London Area Chamber of Commerce also launched its own online fundraiser to help with flood relief.
Some large corporate donations, including $10,000 from Cellcom, have been announced, but the community is helping too. It’s help that will be needed now and for weeks and months to come.
