07/29/2026
Praying for SO many this week-
Here’s some information for those needing or wanting help 🙏🏻
Together we can make a difference !
Whether you are able to provide assistance or need support after the Fox Cities tornado, here are some places to start:
- If you need assistance locally, dial 2-1-1. They work hard to stay current on all of the resources available in the area, and their operators can help connect you to the right place.
- Volunteer opportunities: sign up and follow Volunteer Fox Cities to help with current and future needs. Or show up this week at the old UW Fox Cities location on Midway Rd. to volunteer between 8 am - 8 pm. They currently plan to be open 8 am - 8 pm Wednesday and Thursday. Follow their page for updates.
**Volunteer sign up link for individuals and groups in comments.
- Clothing donations: follow Community Clothes Closet to donate or if you are in need. Gunderson Cleaners sites are also accepting clothing donations.
- Item donations: are being accepted at the old UW Fox Cities campus. NO large items (without prior approval) or clothing- it is a temporary site, they don't have capacity yet. Enter off Midway Rd. **Large trucks: enter off University. See below for other organizations offering meals and shelter who are also collecting donations.
**Donate $$ if you can: Please know that we have a wonderful community and a LOT of donated items are coming in, and many more are expected. Monetary donations to organizations like United Way or your preferred local community organization help them fill in the gaps where most needed, save on having to find and manage temporary warehouse space, and allow them to provide ongoing assistance for everything from diapers and formula to hotel stays or gas cards, and to larger grants for losses not covered by insurance.**
- Financial support: go to United Way Fox Cities to donate to the coordinated community recovery effort.
- Shelter, meals, basic needs & water sites: Christ The Rock Menasha WI , Calvary Bible Church, Neenah-Menasha Elks #676
Check their pages for updates and needed donations as well.
- For kids: whether they need a place to go or a meal, check the page for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley
- Respite care: check resources being shared on the Respite Care Association of Wisconsin page
- Assistance with pet needs: Fox Valley Humane Association, Neenah Animal Shelter
- Showers: check out the Fox Cities YMCA page for updates on locations open for those who need.
- Discount hotels: with Mile of Music this week, most local hotels are booked up, but some availability is still listed for Oshkosh and Green Bay area hotels through the Fox Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau.
-WiFi points: Cellcom has free access sites at the old Shopko in Menasha and at the old UW Fox Valley location on Midway Rd. Spectrum also has sone sites set up- check your app if you are a customer. Check your local libraries too.
- Boil water alert updates: Outagamie County Emergency Management
Other important pages/sites for safety and recovery updates:
City of Menasha Police Department
City of Appleton Government
- AppletonWI .gov/ recovery
- OutagamieCounty .gov / tornado
- WinnebagoCounty wi .gov/990/ Winnebago-County-Tornado-Event-Information
It is heartbreaking to see the devastation that starts just a few blocks from my home. But it is also deeply heartening to see the community response. ❤️ Remember too that this need will not be gone in a week. Most sites aren't ready yet for a lot of the help they will need in the future, like furniture, small appliances, etc.
Please be patient if you are offering help and they can't get to you yet!
There are relatively small but incredibly talented teams from across the area doing their best to organize the massive need and incredible response. They are continually assessing, coordinating, and responding in so many ways that we may never see from the outside. And every emergancy management and staff person I saw still working at the volunteer site late tonight was positive, incredibly kind, and energized by the mission and response so far. ❤️
If you cannot contribute or help out immediately, there will be many future needs that are often harder to get attention for. Sign up through the Volunteer Fox Cities form link in comments to get ongoing updates on future opportunities!
* I have no official affiliation with any of the organizations above. Just offering what I can- time and information.
*Reposted from our towns fb page 🙏🏻
